Rayo Vallecano struck a blow at Anoeta against a Real Sociedad side that was different from last season, who at times looked like a lesser team and were quite out of place during the 98 minutes of the match. The San Sebastian team never felt comfortable, holding their own in the first half and going into the break hoping to take a step forward, but it was in the second quarter that the Vallecanos sealed the deal and started another season in the top flight in a very good way. Zubimendi’s goal in the 97th minute only slightly concealed the poor image given by the Real Sociedad team, in which neither Kubo nor Oyarzabal, two of the leaders of the previous season, appeared.
1
Álex Remiro, Aritz Elustondo, Javi López, Jon Pacheco, Hamari Traoré (Jon Aramburu, min. 74), Beñat Turrientes (Ander Barrenetxea, min. 67), Urko González (Martín Zubimendi, min. 45), Brais Méndez, Sheraldo Becker , Takefusa Kubo (Sergio Gómez, min. 67) and Mikel Oyarzabal (Luka Sucic, min. 82)
2
Dani Cárdenas, Alfonso Espino, Abdul Mumin, Florian Lejeune, Andrei Ratiu (Iván Balliu, min. 79), Adri Embarba (Pep Chavarría, min. 74), Unai López (Gerard Gumbau, min. 45), Óscar Valentín, Jorge de Frutos (Pathé Ciss, min. 74), Randy Nteka (Sergio Camello, min. 62) and Isi Palazón
Goals
0-1 min. 66: De Frutos. 0-2 min. 83: Sergio Camello. 1-2 min. 97: Martín Zubimendi
Referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez
Urko Gonzalez (min. 26), Unai López (min. 31), Lejeune (min. 52), Nteka (min. 55), Embarba (min. 56), Jon Aramburu (min. 93)
André Ratiu, with his striking blue hair, was close to achieving a feat at Anoeta, ten seconds into the match, when with the Real Sociedad players still dazzled by the pomp of the tribute to the Olympic and European medallists, the centre kick, with Embarba’s long pass, got past Remiro, who was able to touch the ball just enough so that it was slightly behind the Romanian player, who had to change his step to shoot with a rabona, with the goal unguarded. To his regret, the forced move gave Pacheco time to come from behind, put his foot in and prevent Rayo’s first goal.
It would have been a very bad start to the league for the San Sebastian side, who without Le Normand, who was transferred, and Zubeldia, who was injured, had to form a central pair with Pacheco and Aritz. In midfield, the absence of Merino, who was on the verge of leaving for the Premier League and with Zubimendi still having little play, gave the opportunity to González de Zarate, who was somewhat overwhelmed in the first few minutes. And the Reales found it difficult, apart from that first chance, to take the measure of the game. With Rayo pressing very high, the San Sebastian side lacked lucidity to decipher Vallecano’s game and clarity to develop their own.
It took a long time for Imanol’s team to settle on the pitch. They only managed to get close to Cárdenas’ area with bursts of attack. Rayo relied on Isi’s direction, although they did not create too much danger in front of Remiro’s goal. The Madrid team gradually lost momentum and began to give the initiative to Real, but they did not seem to cause any discomfort to Iñigo Pérez’s team, despite the fact that Becker, on the left, was active but imprecise in his crosses into the area.
Only a forced shot from Aritz, after a corner kick, caused concern in the Rayo defence before the break. Afterwards, with the logical adjustments in the dressing room, Real began to press, although they did not create any opportunities to score. Only a mistake by the visitors, a counterattack by Kubo, in his only important appearance, ended with a shot by Becker that went high. Unlike in the first half, this time it was Rayo who, little by little, began to get the hang of the game, and in the run-up to the goal that put them in the lead, Gumbau was able to open the scoring when Remiro tried to play with Pacheco and gave the ball to the Rayo player, who in front of him, allowed the goalkeeper to make up for his error with a great save.
But it was the first warning for a distracted Real Madrid, who were punished two minutes later. In a quick throw-in to set up a counterattack, Kubo did not get to the ball, which was grabbed by Mumin, who crossed the midfield, arrived near the area and left it to De Frutos, who, back and forth, dribbled past Pacheco twice to shoot high and surprise Remiro.
Imanol made some changes to the bench, but nothing worked in the Real Sociedad game, although his men came closer to Cárdenas’ area, and in another childish error, Camello, the hero of the Olympic Games, sealed the match with his team’s second goal. A throw-in from Aramburu ended up at the feet of Pathe Ciss, who saw the movement of his teammate, who, in front of Remiro’s exit, crossed the ball to him to make it two for Rayo Vallecano against a rival that has not yet found its way.
The goal from Zubimendi, the new idol of Real Sociedad after his refusal to play against Liverpool, did not console anyone at the Reale Arena, who expected much more from his team.
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