Villarreal make a commendable effort to earn draw against Rayo Vallecano

Villarreal earned a creditable point against Rayo Vallecano (1-1) in the last match of the calendar year at the Estadio de la Cerámica. The Yellowsuets, who are still unlucky, conceded 0-1 early on and soon after were reduced to ten men when Willy Kambwala was sent off. Despite all this, the Submarine did not give up and at times even dominated the game, which they equalised through Ayoze Pérez in first half stoppage time.

The Submarine received Rayo Vallecano to play the match postponed due to the flooding in Valencia, corresponding to the Matchday 12 of the 2024/25 LALIGA EA Sports season. The Groguets came into the match in a moment of need, after accumulating three consecutive defeats in LALIGA and the Copa del Rey. A small blip after a fabulous start to the season under Marcelino García Toral.

With all this, the Submarine were more eager than ever to make amends and give the fans the last win of the calendar year at the Estadio de la Cerámica. They entered the game well and had a couple of chances in the early stages of the match. Yeremy had the best chance with a low shot that Batalla saved with a great save. An interception by Santi Comesaña as the visitors played out from the back led to the promising move.

Luck, which had eluded Villarreal in recent matches, continued to turn its back on Marcelino’s side. In the 20th minute, they conceded 0-1 in the away side’s first dangerous attack. Álvaro García took advantage of his speed to win a ball into space and beat Luiz Júnior with a low shot.

The goal was a bitter pill to swallow for the Submarine, who soon after were reduced to ten men when Willy Kambwala was sent off. The Congolese defender was shown the red card for a heavy challenge on Óscar Valentín.

Even with ten men, Villarreal did not lose their nerve and had a couple of chances to make it 1-1. Both from Ayoze. One with a first-time shot from Cardona’s long ball and, later, with a header from Barry’s cross. The reward for persistence came in the 45th minute when the striker from the Canary Islands himself smashed a sublime right-footed effort into the top corner of the net defended by Batalla. Denis Suárez provided the assist.

In the second half, the Submarine confirmed that, despite the circumstances, they were not content with a draw. Marcelino maintained the three-man defence and played the game from strength to strength even with one man down.

For the first few minutes of the second half, Villarreal kept the ball in Rayo’s hands. However, as the clock ticked down, the players were losing steam. Iñigo Pérez’s players, fresher, got hold of the ball and began to press in the opposition half.

In the last part of the second half, Marcelino looked to the bench, bringing on Gerard, Pau Cabanes and Juan Foyth, who returned after several months on the sidelines. Fresh legs to face the final stages of the game.

In the 81st minute, Jorge de Frutos missed a great chance to turn the game in the visitors’ favour, but all was not yet said and done at La Cerámica. The Submarine looked for long balls and set pieces. Only a shot from Bernat, saved by Batalla, could have prevented the final draw at La Cerámica. With this share of the points, the Submarine bid farewell to their fans until 2025.