Rayo Vallecano 2-1 RCD Mallorca
Only 10 goals have been seen in Vallecas in La Liga this season, and the home team has only nine points from 10 home games, six of which have come in draws. With RCD Mallorca, a point behind Rayo Vallecano, and themselves just one above relegation, the stage was set for a sunny, but sunny Sunday afternoon.
The relaxed atmosphere of a Sunday afternoon entered the game early on, with Jorge de Frutos putting the home crowd at ease. A through ball from Nobel Mendy found Alvaro Garcia on the left side of the box. His cross put the ball on de Frutos’ plate past Marash Kumbulla, who tapped home four minutes later.
Two tweaks are immediately visible to Inigo Perez and Jagoba Arrasate; new loan signing from Atletico Madrid Carlos Martin has been playing on the right for Rayo rather than his natural forward role. On the other hand, Mallorca’s dangerous Jan Virgili is included, playing alongside Vedat Muriqi. It was Virgili sliding into his natural left-back role that gave Mallorca the lead, Samu Costa heading Virgili’s cross straight at Augusto Batalla.
⚡¡@Jorge_deFrutosS abre el marcador en el RayoMallorca!@RayoVallecano | LALIGA Highlights pic.twitter.com/hBL0jN1Gdr
— LALIGA (@LaLiga) January 11, 2026
To Arrasate’s credit though, Toni Lato, who was deputizing for Virgili on the left, provided an inviting cross that was headed in by Vedat Muriqi after 30 minutes. Taking off his marker, his low header found the net in a shot for Muriqi’s goal, his 11th of the season. Rayo responded with two crosses to the far post, one headed in by Martin, the other almost bundled in.
Five minutes before the break, Rayo had the gift of coming back in front. Martin Valjent brought down Jorge de Frutos when he followed another ball to the left, and the referee did not hesitate to show a pack-kick. Isi Palazon hesitated, before the ball from the penalty kick rolled into the net, Leo Roman looked at it from the side of the goal.
Desperately searching for rhythm
Neither team played with any particular purpose after the break, the main difference being Mallorca’s desire to get higher and put more pressure on their opponents. After Roman and the bar were employed in two consecutive corners to save the score in the first minutes, Vallecas settled in a satisfied sigh that is worthy of the lunch hour, but in the back of Perez’s mind would be their draw last week, when Rayo could not protect their narrow lead against Getafe.
A more mobile Gerard Gumbau replaced Pedro Diaz in midfield, while de Frutos was withdrawn for left-back Pacha Espino, a clear message that the home side will once again look to close the game in defense rather than attack. Espino looked out of place as he was caught off guard, with one man to beat.
Arrasate had moved Virgili back to the left in favor of Mateo Joseph, Pablo Torre and Sergi Darder, but the game continued to lack the tempo and rhythm to put Rayo under any pressure. Instead, Isi and Garcia find holes in the counter, the former’s attempt is blocked, the latter drags his gun. Oscar Valentin added to their pressure levels with only 10 minutes remaining, his challenge was deemed dangerous after a VAR review, and he was therefore sent off.
For the first time Vallecas has seen three goals in a La Liga game this season.
First time any team has scored twice in Vallecas in La Liga since May 15th, almost 8 months ago.
– Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) January 11, 2026
Mallorca look dangerously strong against their rivals in the table as they chase an equaliser. They had the flu, rather than anything that goes along with the flu. The three points came comfortably for Rayo, who had played at similar performance levels all season, but finally got a second win at home as compensation for competing in every game.
The first team to score two goals in Vallecas in La Liga since May 15, the end of the feelings were still comfortable in terms of their results. Mallorca failed to create a clear chance in the second half, and when it comes to comfort, the 10th place with a five-point gap at the drop is very kind again.
