Athletic to test Rayo’s new pitch after month-long fiasco at Vallecas | OneFootball

Athletic visit Vallecas on Saturday at 14:00 to be first to play on Rayo Vallecano’s new pitch after a month of upheaval. No football has been staged on the Avenida de la Albufera since 24 January.

According to El Correo, Rayo sources say the turf has largely settled after three weeks and only something unusual would stop the game. Even so, a late change is not ruled out.

The chaos peaked on 7 February when Rayo’s match with Oviedo was called off hours before kick-off, the surface having been laid only 24 hours earlier then soaked by prolonged rain. La Liga also moved Atlético’s 15 February visit to Butarque, and Pérez’s team prepared at Getafe before winning 3-0.

Ticketing for Butarque was chaotic, with collections at the training ground, long queues and police blocking a general sale.

Supporters’ discontent runs deeper, from dilapidated facilities to a women’s side fighting relegation in the third tier and no online ticketing. Pre-season problems forced the squad off the training base due to poor pitches, no hot water and unclean dressing rooms, shifting work to Las Rozas or borrowed artificial turf, and there have been three equipment thefts including boots.

For Rayo-Oviedo, the Competition Judge annulled La Liga’s delay and set it for next Wednesday, leaving any sanction to the Disciplinary Committee. Both clubs still list the fixture and it appears likely to be played, though a 0-3 award to bottom club Oviedo remains possible.

Source: El Correo