RAYO VALLECANO (Campo de Futbol de Vallecas)

LA LIGA, RAYO VALLECANO 2-2 SEVILLA, ATTENDANCE: 12,375

The final leg of my Spanish journey to me a short subway ride (about 12 minutes) from my hotel near Atocha. It was just as well I could afford myself a bit of lay in after discovering a fine craft beer bar in Madrid, which was open until 1am!

The Estadio de Vallecas is across the road from Portazgo subway entrance and the ground rises between the shops and tower blocks.

The ground feels part of the community and a story that perfectly illustrates that spirit can be found here. The stadium has been home to Rayo since 1976 and has a capacity of just under 15,000. 

The ground was renamed in 1994 when Teresa Rivero became President of the club, the first female President of a Primera División team. Rayo therefore decided to rename the stadium in her honour. When she left in 2011, the club's members voted to reinstate the original name.

This game was close to capacity which meant I had to pay €40 for a seat in the main stand. The plus side to this was it gave me a great pitch side view of the action and also the chance to watch the Rayo Ultra's do their stuff.

The Ultras locate themselves behind the goal (the ground is three-sided) and they kept their support for the team going throughout the game. The noise and atmosphere inside the ground was by far the best I had experienced on this trip.

The fans did have plenty to cheer as the home side came from two goals down to secure themselves a point.

Sevilla were quickest out of the blocks and after 10 minutes the Vallecano defence failed to deal with a corner and, after the ball had pinballed in the six yard box, ex Blackburn and Stoke player Steven N'Zonzi prodded the ball over the line.

After 20 minutes Sevilla counter attacked again and a shot by Vitolo was parried by Rayo 'keeper Juan Carlos into the path of  Iborra who toe poked the ball home.

Sevilla were carving Rayo open at will and should have extended their lead further, including another effort from Iborra which came back off the post

Manucho Gonçalves came on as a substitute after 35 minutes and his physical presence helped to bring Rayo back into the game. He produced a fine finish after 43 minutes, from an Adri Embarba cross, to halve the deficit.

Sevilla missed more chances in the opening period of the second half and their profligacy was to prove costly.  On the hour mark ex-Manchester United player Bebe crossed for Nicolas Fedor to equalise for Rayo.

Rayo had chances to snatch an unlikely victory but in the end were happy to settle for a point. The draw was a fair result, considering the way in which Rayo fought back from two goals down, but Sevilla will be wondering how on earth they let this game slip away.

A fine end to my long weekend of Spanish football. Now, if only I didn't have to have been at the airport for 8pm.....

"Love Rayo, hate racism"
A mural at the ground featuring former West Bromwich Albion legend Laurie Cunningham.
Cunningham played 19 games for Rayo in 1988/89, scoring the goal that clinched promotion to La Liga that season. He sadly died in a car crash in July 1989 aged just 33.

Click here for a video clip of the goals.

Click here for a video of the players and fans clebrating together.