Rayo Vallecano - 2 Alavés 0

Rayo: Imanol Etxeberria; Ferrón, De Quintana, Mainz, Alcázar; Quevedo, Pablo Sanz; Peragón (Azkoitia 95'), Michel, Arteaga (Helder 70'); Bolic (Glaucio 85'). 4-2-3-1.
Alavés: Kike; Geli, Coloccini, Téllez, Llorens; Turiel (Witschge 68'), Pablo (Jordi Cruyff 60'); Astudillo, Magno, Ibon Begoña (Karmona 46'); Rubén Navarro. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Rayo: No change / Alavés: Magno for Mara.

Goals:
1-0. 07. Peragón (penalty). After Bolic fouled in penalty area.
2-0. 77. Bolic. Scored from close range after good work by Peragón down right.

Match played on 23rd January after orginal fixture suspended due to snow.

Rayo Vallecano moved off the bottom of the table with a 2-0 victory over Alavés in the match postponed from day 18. Rayo manager Gregorio Manzano put out the same side who beat Barcelona at the weekend, the first time he has repeated his line up. They started strongly, and should have been in front by the break if their forwards had not wasted several good chances in front of Kike. Referee Pérez Burrull turned down two or three penalty appeals as well from Rayo in the first half, particularly one for a foul by Ibon Begoña on Peragón, and Mané decided he needed another man at the back, Karmona replacing Begoña at the break.

Eight minutes after the restart the referee finally awarded a penalty kick to Rayo when Bolic was brought down by Turiel, and home grown midfielder Peragón scored from the spot. Then later on in the half Bolic made it two after Peragón crossed in from the right. Alavés manager Mané could be in trouble after running on to the pitch late in the second half to complain to the referee that the home fans were throwing things at him, and Rayo's Ferrón got himself sent off in the last minute of injury time for a second bookable offence. Rayo ended the day with a well earned three points which takes them a point above Real Sociedad, whilst Alavés miss out on the chance to join leaders Real Madrid at the top of the table.