Rayo Vallecano and Valencia played out a hard-fought draw in Madrid, in a match where the home side dominated long stretches but failed to turn their superiority into three points.

Rayo made a bright start, opening the scoring and dictating the tempo throughout the first half. Andoni Iraola’s men pushed relentlessly for a second goal, carving out several clear-cut chances, yet their finishing repeatedly let them down. A costly mistake at the back changed the momentum: a poor clearance gifted Diego López the perfect opportunity, and the Valencia striker made no mistake, snatching a valuable point for Los Che.

2025-26, Spain - La Liga

Rayo Vallecano - Valencia 1:1 (1:0)
Goals: Mendy N., 37 (1:0); López D., 64 (1:1)

Rayo Vallecano: Batalla; Chavarría; Álvaro García (Camello, 90); Lejeune; Mendy N. (Luiz Felipe, 83); Ratiu; Gumbau; López U. (Alemao, 69); Valentín Ó.; Pérez Fr. (Espino, 69); De Frutos (Balliu, 83)
Substitution: Espino (from 69); Alemao (from 69); Luiz Felipe (from 83); Balliu (from 83); Camello (from 90)
Bench: Cárdenas; Vertrouwd Jozhua; Becerra
Yellow Cards: Alemao 90

Valencia: Agirrezabala; Copete; Tarrega; Correia Th.; Javi Guerra (Danjuma, 57); Almeida D.A.; Gaya; Pepelu (Santamaria, 90); Duro (Beltran L., 74); Rioja L. (Ugrinic, 74); López D. (Raba, 90)
Substitution: Danjuma (from 57); Ugrinic (from 74); Beltran L. (from 74); Santamaria (from 90); Raba (from 90)
Bench: Dimitrievski; Rivero C.; Foulquier; Vázquez Je.; Cömert; Iranzo; Otorbi
Yellow Cards: Correia Th. 71