Controversial return to Vallecas | OneFootball

Rayo Vallecano returns to its stadium 140 days later in the 10th Vallecas Trophy

Rayo Vallecano’s reunion with the Vallecas Stadium after 140 days away was completely overshadowed by the social and institutional fracture affecting the club, in a turbulent day marked by vandalism in the directors’ box, protests against the board, and a penalty shootout defeat to Cagliari in the tenth edition of the Vallecas Trophy. In front of just 4,462 spectators, the red-sashed ground staged the tensest moment yet in the conflict pitting president Raúl Martín Presa against the fans and public authorities.

Institutional tension and incidents in the directors’ box

The tense atmosphere was evident before the ball even started rolling, with the Vallecas end completely empty by decision of Bukaneros, in protest at the club’s management and the stadium situation, displaying only a banner reading "Housing for the working class". During the first half, dozens of fans moved to the area around an initially empty directors’ box to protest against the board with chants and banners, in a stadium whose seats had been found slashed and covered in paint during the previous night. The situation reached its most critical point when the club reported an attempted storming of the VIP box in three separate incidents by hooded individuals, forcing private security to close access points and request the presence of the National Police.

After halftime, Raúl Martín Presa reappeared in the VIP area flanked by representatives of Vox and escorted by security, standing in a row above his usual seat while being met with a fresh wave of whistles. From the Community of Madrid, the regional minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Mariano de Paco, strongly condemned the vandalism suffered at the venue, although the regional government demanded a correction from the club after accusations made by the red-sashed board, reminding it that internal security falls under the responsibility of the club itself. This chain of incidents confirmed the extreme fragility of relations between the parties, in a context where negotiations over the stadium concession and future urban development alternatives remain completely deadlocked.

Condition of the presidential box before the match began. Source: Rayo Vallecano

The exchange of accusations between the board and the public authorities makes clear the complexity of a conflict that goes beyond sport alone. The club’s ambitions regarding a possible move to ADIF land in Abroñigal clash with municipal plans for the development of Madrid Nuevo Sur and the demands of the regional government regarding the upkeep of the current ground. With no agreement in sight and the fans openly opposed to Martín Presa’s management, the return to Vallecas has made clear that the governance crisis threatens to shape the entire season for the Vallecas side.

Sporting performance, academy players, and Beñat San José’s assessment

Strictly on the sporting front, Beñat San José’s team produced a strong first half in which it nullified the Italian side and took the lead in the 24th minute thanks to a fine team move finished by Álvaro García. The coach used the friendly to test Iván Alonso at right-back and give minutes to players returning from injury such as Jozhua Vertrouwd, Isi Palazón and Randy Nteka after overcoming their respective physical problems. However, the carousel of substitutions in the second half unbalanced the home side, allowing Cagliari to level the contest in a quick transition finished by Nzola after a defensive lapse.

The match was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout after the 1-1 scoreline at the end of the 90 minutes, where misses from Isi Palazón and Pelayo ended up handing the trophy to the visitors. Despite the defeat from the spot, the footballing signs from the first half were encouraging for San José’s system, especially because of the personality shown by the five academy players who got minutes throughout the match. The renewed squad depth brought by the return of the injured players gives the coaching staff more tactical alternatives ahead of the imminent league clash with Athletic Club.

Starting XI with rotation and surprises against Cagliari. Source: Rayo Vallecano

At the post-match press conference, Beñat San José spoke positively about his players’ performance and the condition of the pitch, although he did not hesitate to describe the institutional situation surrounding the club as "unsustainable" after starting the season with four demanding away trips and three home matches played in exile at Leganés. The coach wanted to publicly back his squad’s effort in the face of the difficulties of the schedule and the tense atmosphere in the stands. Rayo thus signs off on a bitter return to its ground, where the footballing improvement on the pitch contrasts with an increasingly explosive institutional environment.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.