Florian Lejeune, Rayo mainstay aiming to shine against Strasbourg | OneFootball

Florian Lejeune, 34, has become the backbone of Rayo Vallecano and now targets a big night against Strasbourg in Thursday's Conference League semi-final at 21:00. L'Équipe notes this is his first European campaign and that Rayo are chasing a first major trophy.

On Sunday, the Frenchman struck in the 84th minute of a breathless 3-3 draw with Real Sociedad, stabbing in from close range to keep hope alive. Vallecas shook, then Alemao levelled at 90+9.

Lejeune tends to come alive in spring, with his last six La Liga goals arriving from matchday 27 onwards. Supporters credit his aerial power and calm defending, some even arguing that without him Rayo would be in the second tier. He is the side's primary outlet from the back and has logged a team-high 4,148 minutes this season.

Raised at Istres, he had a Ligue 1 taste with Brest in 2013, playing 10 matches from January to May while Strasbourg were in the CFA. He then built his career in Spain with Villarreal, Girona, Eibar and Alavés, before Newcastle signed him from Eibar in 2017 for €10 million under Rafael Benitez. Two ACL ruptures, right then left knee, blighted his Premier League stay, and a return to Spain restored his rhythm.

At Vallecas he quickly dispelled the idea of an ageing, slow centre-back. Now the left-footer mentors Nobel Mendy, 21, a Paris FC graduate and new Senegal international. Under 38-year-old coach Inigo Perez, tipped in Spain as Marcelino's successor at Villarreal, he has added long-range threat, with four of his 11 Rayo goals from free-kicks, and the crowd urge him to shoot whenever he nears the box.

Source: L'Équipe