Unai Simón stands tall as Vallecas protests frame fierce Rayo v Athletic start | OneFootball

An edgy start in Vallecas featured fervent protests and a standout Unai Simón, as Rayo and Athletic traded early blows and Lejeune rattled the post.

According to as.com, supporters raised SOS cards in minutes one and 13 and chanted against Presa on the team’s return home, with travelling fans joining. A banner said the club would endure with its people. Tributes were paid to Pathé Ciss and Álvaro.

Pacha Espino tested Simón, the keeper saving smartly. Soon after, Lejeune met a deep Gumbau cross with a deft header against the post, Simón getting a touch.

De Frutos then reached the byline and picked out Álvaro, whose downward header brought another fine Simón save. A Rayo break saw the Moroccan Ilias knee a chance wide, and later Isi lashed from range after robbing Jauregizar.

Referee García Verdura paused a restart to check a possible Mendy handball with VAR before allowing play to continue, and the defender soon headed clear. Guruzeta later barged Lejeune by the touchline, almost hitting a security worker.

Vallecas also demanded a card after a coming together between Unai Gómez and Ratiu, with the midfielder indicating there was no contact to the face. Athletic’s efforts stayed off target, while Simón had already produced two excellent stops. Sancet’s haul v Rayo is six in six LaLiga games.

Source: as.com