Las Palmas tightened their grip on European positioning after a 0-2 victory over Rayo Vallecano, with Alberto Moleiro finding the net in the first half and Javi Muñoz adding a second after the break. The win further unsettled Rayo and its coach Francisco Rodríguez, who now face a precarious stretch as the season unfolds. Las Palmas have been celebrated on home soil since September 15, 2023, a run that has stretched for more than four months and remains a talking point among supporters and critics alike. (citation: league report, contemporary match coverage)
Following their Cup exit, a disappointment many had pinned hopes on, Rayo returned to Vallecas ready to entertain their fans against one of the league’s most notable up-and-coming sides. The visitors, led by coach Garcia Pimienta, arrived determined to capitalise on the game and fuel their own European push. (citation: post-Cup reaction analysis)
The first warning came from the home side eight minutes in when French defender Florian Lejeune curled a free kick that goalkeeper Álvaro Vallés barely pushed away. Álvaro García pounced on the rebound, firing a shot that skimmed the left post. It was a sign that the match would be tight, with both teams eyeing danger in open space. (citation: match notes)
Moments later, Vallés produced another crucial intervention to keep Las Palmas at arm’s length. He intercepted a threatening ball and helped reset the visitors, who then shifted to a more aggressive midfield approach with Javi Muñoz and Máximo Perrone pulling strings around the forward lines. Las Palmas found their rhythm by pressuring high and disrupting Rayo’s build-up, a strategic shift that changed the tempo of the encounter. (citation: tactical analysis)
That increase in tempo yielded the first real opportunity for Las Palmas in the 21st minute when Alex Suárez unleashed a strike from distance, forcing Stole Dimitrievski into a diving save to deny the effort. Dimitrievski would soon become central to the moment that defined the half, as a misplay near the break gifted Las Palmas a breakthrough. Lejeune, backpedalling under pressure, mishandled a clearance, the ball sitting invitingly in the area for Moleiro who headed it into the net, unchallenged. The strike sent a jolt through the Vallecas stands and left Rayo with work to do after the interval. (citation: game events recap)
The goal was a wake-up call for Rayo, who had already shown late-season jitters and a tendency to concede under pressure. The Canary Islands club played with renewed intent, using Munir and Sandro Ramírez to stretch the play and test the home side’s resolve. For Rayo, the wake-up came at a price, and the team began the second half with a clearer focus on breaking through a organized Las Palmas defense. (citation: in-game commentary)
As the second half progressed, Rayo increased their attacking output, buoyed by the home crowd’s relentless support and the urgency of their situation. Yet their efforts often appeared predictable, with Isi and Álvaro linking singularly with Oscar Trejo. Camello did flare to life on occasions, injecting moments of pace that briefly lifted the tempo, but the visitors lacked consistent penetration against a well-drilled Las Palmas backline. (citation: match recap)
Las Palmas continued to press forward and extended their lead in the 62nd minute when Javi Muñoz finished a composed move after twisting and turning inside the box, a strike that Dimitrievski managed to reach but could not prevent with a timely parry. The goalkeeper had moments of brilliance and at times a bit of misfortune in dealing with the strikes that followed, yet his reflexes remained a constant threat to Rayo. (citation: goalkeeper performance)
With time running out and the pressure mounting, Rayo coach Francisco Rodríguez sought fresh options in a bid to alter the outcome. In the 75th minute, he introduced Radamel Falcao to bring more movement and threat to the attack, hoping his experience might unlock a stubborn Las Palmas defense. (citation: tactical substitutions)
Las Palmas closed out the win in style with eight minutes remaining in regulation when Muñoz delivered a cross that Sergi Cardona redirected with the sole of his boot, directing it toward Dimitrievski who could only watch as the ball rolled into the heart of the goal. The shot capped a performance that combined discipline with moments of individual quality, as Las Palmas maintained control of the match to seal a deserved three points. (citation: critical moment)
As the final whistle approached, a sense of frustration settled over Vallecas. Fans streamed toward the exits knowing their side would not celebrate victory in the league this day, while Las Palmas celebrated a result that solidified their place among the league’s rising teams. The win reinforced the narrative around a team that has steadily built something new and exciting this season, and it left Rayo with work to do as they look to climb away from the precarious spots in the table. (citation: post-match reaction)
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