Cárdenas seizes his moment as Vallecas’ patient hero | OneFootball

Dani Cárdenas took centre stage on Thursday, thwarting Kike García from the spot and igniting Vallecas as Rayo clung on. He kept his side alive until Camello’s intervention, then even clambered onto a ball to tape up a torn net so the second half could start.

As reported by AS, team-mates describe a rapid keeper who studies takers and excels from penalties, pairing instinct with preparation. After the Espanyol match, Batalla embraced him, and dressing-room voices call their rivalry healthy and friendly.

He will be back in goal on Sunday because Batalla collected a fifth booking from the bench for dissent, an opening that also lets him recover from issues lingering since the AEK tie. The Catalan has earned this spotlight in a challenging stay at Vallecas.

Cárdenas arrived in summer 2023 after shining with Levante, the club where he came through and debuted in the top flight. He cost about one and a half million euros and signed until 2027 to replace Diego López and contest the shirt with Dimitrievski. That first season he sat behind the North Macedonian and played the Cup, recording three clean sheets in four.

The 2024-25 campaign began with him as starter until Rayo added Batalla, and the pattern returned. His numbers underline his ability, two league clean sheets, both against Getafe, in six appearances, plus one in four in the Cup.

Last summer he looked for a move but stayed, and the Cup exit pushed him back to the fringes. Now he has a fresh chance to step out of the shadows. Team-mates portray a family man devoted to his daughter who guides Juanpe and Adri and often gives gloves to youngsters.

He has defeated Real Sociedad twice, 2-1 with Levante in 2021-22 and 1-2 with Rayo in 2024-25.

Source: AS