Once may be a coincidence; two, coincidence … but fourteen days later, this Rayo has become – by right – the revelation team of the championship. The franjirrojos have been occupying European positions for eight days and, in this, they finish with the Champions League at three points. Good part of fault it has its power in Vallecas. Those of Iraola are the best locals in Primera, with six wins and a draw, 90% of the points at stake. Nobody has yet been able to beat them at home, where they have achieved 83% of their total points.
What’s more, Rayo has emerged as the most powerful recently promoted of the five European leagues, thanks to 23 points that place him in sixth place. Bochum (13 points, 13th) and Greuther Fürth (1, bottom) are the rookies in the Bundesliga; Troyes (13th, 17th) and Clermont (13th, 18th), those from Ligue 1; Empoli (16, 12º), Venezia (15, 14º) and Salernitana (7, bottom), those of Serie A and Brentford (13, 14º), Watford (13, 16º) and Norwich (8, 19º), those of the Premier. Only the Estoril of the Portuguese Primeira would come close to him, which is fourth with 20 points.
Today, the franjirrojos leave very on track a permanence that could be around 40 points. Salvation is the main objective of the Vallecano club, although not the only one, because they aspire to close it as soon as possible and dream of higher levels. At the moment they have taken half as many days (14, instead of 28) than in their last season in Primera (18-19) to reach the same number of points. So their homework is quite advanced.
So much so that this current Rayo (seven wins, two draws and five losses) has equaled the score of that of Juande in 00-01 (six wins, five draws and three losses), the best at this stage of the championship. Precisely, that team was the one that played the UEFA Cup, their only European participation in the entire history of the Strip, and reached the lead (anecdotally) during the first day, after beating Villarreal (1-5). Those of Iraola have surpassed that Matagigantes, which in the 77-78 won six wins, three draws and five defeats, which translated into 15 points. Today would be 21 since before a win was worth only 2.
Illusion exists, as does caution. Iraola insists on the importance of not losing the perspective that worse times will come. “The 23 points are very good, but with those what you have guaranteed is to go down, so we need more. More complicated streaks will come and we hope not to lose our identity ”, warned the Basque coach. An idea on which one of the scorers against Mallorca, Sergi Guardiola, influenced. “We can dream, but with our feet on the ground. Our goal is to win at home, Vallecas knows it and is taking us on the fly ”, said the forward in Movistar.
Álvaro, one of the team’s top scorer with five goals, highlighted the role of the stands: “We are very strong with the support of the fans. We played well and had 23 points. Who was going to tell us at the beginning of the course … We have to continue”. The performance of the Madrilenians no longer surprises anyone. “We have confidence, things are working out for us and we must enjoy this moment, without losing the work and humility that has led us here”Recalled Captain Trejo. For now, Vallecas continues to party and the crowd chores that of next year, Rayo-Liverpool. Nobody beats illusion …