Rayo Vallecano Defy Chaos to Stun Atletico Madrid in La Liga Upset
In a remarkable display of resilience, Rayo Vallecano secured a stunning 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid, despite playing in exile at Leganés' stadium amid a fan revolt and unusable home facilities. The win came after a week of turmoil, with players protesting poor working conditions and supporters boycotting in protest against owner Raúl Martín Presa.
Exile and Protest: A Club in Crisis
Rayo Vallecano's preparation for the match was far from normal. With their training ground declared unusable due to a fungal infection on the grass and their Vallecas stadium deemed unfit, the team had to train at Getafe's facilities. The match itself was relocated to Butarque, home of second-division side Leganés, after La Liga postponed the original fixture due to pitch conditions described by players as "a disgrace" and "not even good enough for regional football."
This relocation was not merely logistical but symbolic. As Rayo took the field, thousands of their fans marched through the streets of Vallecas with banners and scarves, while only 5,335 spectators attended the actual match—the lowest attendance since the pandemic. Supporters' groups had called for a boycott, with a Mariachi band performing protest songs dedicated to Presa, whom fans have repeatedly demanded leave the club.
A Victory Against All Odds
Despite the chaos, Rayo delivered a performance that defied expectations. Goals from Fran Pérez, Óscar Valentín, and Nobel Mendy secured a comprehensive victory over an Atletico side that had battered Barcelona 4-0 just three days earlier. The win lifted Rayo out of the relegation zone, providing a glimmer of hope in a season marred by off-field issues.
Captain Óscar Valentín acknowledged the difficulty of focusing on football amid the crisis, stating, "It hasn't been easy to focus on the game." Coach Íñigo Pérez echoed this sentiment, calling the day "bitter" for Rayo's people and emphasizing that the victory was not a cause for celebration but a moment to empathize with those suffering.
Deep-Rooted Problems at the Club
The stadium and training ground issues are symptomatic of deeper problems at Rayo Vallecano. The club, which plays in a municipally owned stadium with only three sides, has long faced infrastructure neglect. Players have reported a lack of hot water in showers, while staff have paid for equipment out of their own pockets. The dressing rooms have been described as laughably poor, with visiting teams like Lech Poznan's kit man sharing videos of inadequate facilities.
Owner Raúl Martín Presa has been a focal point of fan anger, having previously called supporters "drunk, brainless and idle." The situation has deteriorated to the point where former captain Óscar Trejo resigned his armband in protest, describing the club as a place with "problem after problem."
What This Means for Rayo's Future
This victory, while impressive, does not solve the underlying issues. Pérez warned that "the glass is broken," referring to the fragile state of the club. Rayo's ability to overcome adversity on the pitch—having also resisted Real Madrid and Barcelona in Vallecas this season—highlights their fighting spirit, but the long-term sustainability remains in question.
As defender Andrei Ratiu noted, the win was needed to avoid relegation, but the players understand and support those fans who chose not to attend. The statement released by the squad earlier in the week calling for "worthy working conditions" underscores that this is about more than football—it's about the survival and dignity of a club that has become a symbol of resistance in Spanish football.
