Rayo Vallecano 2 - Valladolid 0

Rayo: Lopetegui; Alcázar, De Quintana, Ballesteros, Mingo; Iván Iglesias, Helder (Bolic 78'), Michel, Setvalls (Mauro 60'); Quevedo; Bolo (Ferreira 87'). 4-4-1-1.
Valladolid: Ricardo; Torres Gómez, García Calvo, Peña, Heinze, Marcos; Richetti, Caminero (Fernando Sales 75'), Chema (Pachón 55'); Ciric (Turiel 80'), Alberto. 5-3-2.

Team changes: Rayo: Lopetegui, Alcázar, De Quintana, Iván Iglesias, Setvalls, Quevedo for Keller, Urbano, Ferreira, Mauro, Poschner, Glaucio Valladolid: Marcos for Turiel.

Goals:
1-0. 45. Setvalls. On far post after long cross from Quevedo on right wing.
1-1. 66. Heinze. Header after free kick from Marcos.
2-1. 83. Bolic. Left foot shot after Bolo headed on Quevedo's pass.

A late goal by Elvir Bolic, his first in the league, gave Rayo victory and moved them back up into the UEFA spots. Up to that point it looked as if the draw specialists Valladolid had done it again after drawing six of their first nine games before this one. Their manager Pancho Ferraro had reverted to his five at the back line up after a timid adventure with a 4-4-2 last week, with Marcos returning from suspension to replace Turiel, and Caminero and Chema keeping their places after good performances in the last game. Rayo's Juande Ramos also called an abrupt end to his midweek experiment, returning to his first choice eleven after being hammered at Oviedo with a changed team. Keller, together with Urbano, Ferreira and Mauro went back to the subs bench after letting in four, with Lopetegui and Quevedo returning, and Iván Iglesias and Setvalls standing in for the suspended Poschner and Glaucio.

As in much of Spain, the weather was awful thoughout the match, with constant rain making conditions difficult for all. There was a bit of a storm too in the directors' box after Valladolid president Nacho Lewin criticized his opposite number Teresa Rivero on a radio station before the game, accusing her of behaving immaturely during matches, shouting insults at opposition (and her own) players and generally not behaving with the necessary decorum which the situation warranted. Unfortunately Señora Rivero was apparently listening to the programme, and decided to ignore him completely throughout the match. The game itself was, well, interesting, with both keepers on good form, Lopetegui saving from Caminero and Alberto, and Ricardo doing likewise from Michel and Quevedo. Just before half time Rayo went in front, Setvalls controlling a long ball from Quevedo before beating Ricardo from close range.

Valladolid came out after the interval determined to turn things around, and shortly after the restart Ferraro threw on Pachón for Chema, with Marcos coming forward to left midfield. After García Calvo and Ciric went close, Heinze equalized with a fine header following a Marcos free kick from deep on the left, and Valladolid went back to sleep, happy with their day's work. But once again Quevedo pumped forward a long ball, and Bolo headed it down into the path of substitute Bolic for him to volley it home. That was not in the script, and there was no time left for Ferraro to change it as referee Medina Cantalejo blew the final whistle. Despite losing only their second game in nine, Valladolid drop down to sixteenth place, only a point above the drop zone. They have to start winning a game or two to get back up to safety, or Ferraro will be history. Rayo go on to play their UEFA cup second leg at Viborg on Thursday, and as with the other three Spanish teams still in that competition, all of whom won this weekend, they are on a high. They may need to be to defend their 1-0 lead from the first leg.