Rayo Vallecano to host Alavés at Butarque after regional mediation | OneFootball

Rayo Vallecano will play their first home match of the season against Alavés at Butarque on 20 August, avoiding a move outside the Madrid region after a late agreement with Leganés.

As reported by El Periódico Mediterráneo, the Community of Madrid mediated between the clubs, unblocking talks after initial terms from Leganés complicated a deal. The El Plantío stadium in Burgos had been lined up as an alternative.

The regional authority, which owns Estadio de Vallecas, intervened to keep the team in the region. It had even indicated a willingness to help financially so supporters would not need to travel to Burgos.

The choice of Butarque also eases anger among Rayo fans, many of whom had criticised the prospect of hosting games in Burgos, more than 200 kilometres from the capital. Supporters’ groups had warned of a possible boycott and announced protests against the board.

For now the switch applies only to the Alavés fixture. The venue for the next scheduled home match on 5 September against Racing de Santander is undecided, with the club aiming to return to Estadio de Vallecas as soon as conditions allow.

Butarque hosted a Rayo home game against Atlético Madrid last season, and again serves as an emergency solution while the immediate future of Estadio de Vallecas remains unresolved.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”