The ‘annus horribilis’ of Lightning

Rayo had high hopes for a 2022 that promised. However, the year is not going as expected in the league. La Franja said goodbye to 2021 in Champions positions – it was fourth, behind Real Madrid, Sevilla and Betis – and with 30 points in its locker, a boot that paved the way to permanence and allowed him to dream of higher levels. Those were the times when the stands sang the chant ‘next year Rayo-Liverpool’ and the Vallecano team was crowned the best local team in Europe (with 25 points), ahead of the almighty PSG, Bayern, Dortmund, City, Arsenal, Inter or Lazio. Figures that also made him a the best recently promoted of the five major leagues and in the revelation of our championship.

The style of Rayo fell in love and the results accompanied him, which aroused praise from locals and strangers. However, Iraola’s speech was always based on caution. Back then, the Usurbil coach warned that the calendar was not easy and his analysis was completely accurate. After hosting Betis (1-1), Athletic (0-1) and Osasuna (0-3) and visiting Atlético (2-0), Celta (2-0) and Elche (2-1), the franjirrojos have only added one point of the last 18 in play, becoming the worst team so far in 2022. No one has made a lower profit. While the other side of the coin is embodied by Villarreal, Real Madrid, Elche and Barça, with 14 points. Precisely the culés have one game less, the one they have to face at the Camp Nou against the vallecanos —corresponding to the twenty-first day— and whose date of celebration is still up in the air.

Today, Rayo is placed in the eleventh position of the classification, eight points from some European posts that were their habitat for eleven days. There they spent the night twice as fourth, another two as fifth and seven as sixth. His collapse in the table has been gradual, caused by a bad run of results that does not correspond to the game played. For example, his last game at Martínez Valero. The red-and-white dominated, created chances, went ahead on the scoreboard, were able to sentence, but ended up losing due to two specific actions by Elche in 76′ and 83′. They deserved more and the game showed that fortune has decided to turn its back on them. Luck that in the first round he made some matches opt for his side and now he has ended up make the Vallecano team the worst visitor in the First Division, with 5 points, along with Alavés. The people of Madrid have only won once away from their domains, in San Mamés, on September 21, 2021.

His bad baggage at home is seen with more concern since Rayo is no longer infallible in Vallecas, where he has chained two defeats in his last contests. One of the reasons may be the load of games that the squad is having for its good work in the Cup. The redheads have reached the semi-finals 40 years later and next Thursday, March 3, they will play the second leg at Villamarín, where they will have to come back (1-2 in the first leg) if they want to reach a final for the first time in their history. Another cause lies in his lack of goal. Fran García’s goal against Elche broke the three-day drought (Athletic, Celta and Osasuna) and thus took over from Balliu, another defender, against Betis. It is more difficult for strikers Guardiola and Falcao to score. Another pending issue is to keep a clean sheet. Rayo has not achieved it since December 18, 2021 against Alavés, with Dimitrievski under sticks.

However, Rayo is not wrinkled and considers the next game against Real Madrid as a challenge. This campaign has already managed to topple Barça there, in Vallecas, and a victory now would be a morale boost not only for the League but also for a comeback in the Cup in ten days. “We were not the best before, nor are we the worst now.. It’s time to work, improve our mistakes and continue trusting this team to change the dynamics, “said Óscar Valentín in his networks. Fran García spoke in that line:”Now I trust more than ever in this family. Surely with work, dedication, sacrifice and courage we will get out of this situation as on other occasions”. A message that has also permeated the fans. Nobody get off the boat…

This is the league classification of this 2022