Match Pack: Athletic Club vs Rayo Vallecano (LaLiga MD6)
Match Pack: Athletic Club vs Rayo Vallecano (LaLiga MD6)
All you need to know as Athletic attempt to maintain their unbeaten LaLiga start when they face Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday night
The shortest of short turnarounds for Athletic Club, who face Rayo Vallecano in Bilbao on Tuesday night. The Lions are hot off the back of holding Atlético Madrid to a nil-nil draw at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday night.
Marcelino’s Rojiblancos are still unbeaten in LaLiga 21-22 and have taken nine points from a possible 15 so far.
What’s more, Athletic have been performing extremely well on a defensive level. They have only conceded one goal in their first five fixtures -Memphis Depay’s strike in the draw with FC Barcelona- and have kept three consecutives clean sheets since then.
Tuesday night’s affair should be a riveting encounter. Newly promoted Rayo Vallecano, led by Athletic legend Andoni Iraola, are one of LaLiga’s surprise early packages, and have scored eight goals in their last three matches.
Tickets for the fixture are available to the general public and can be purchased through Athletic Club’s official online ticket channel as well as at San Mames’ ticket offices between 10:30-13:30 on Tuesday morning.
Match info
Athletic Club vs Rayo Vallecano (Matchday 6)
San Mamés (Bilbao)
LaLiga Santander 21-22
Tuesday September 21, 22:00 CEST
How to watch
We’ve compiled a list of global kick-off times and international LaLiga broadcasters so you can catch the match from any part of the world.
Team news
Only two changes from the squad that travelled to the Wanda Metropolitano. Young goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala comes back into the fold, as does 18-year-old forward Nico Serrano.
Marcelino’s comments
The Athletic Club head coach acknowledged the difficulties involved with such a late kick-off on a weekday, but urged all the fans who can to attend Tuesday night’s match at The Cathedral, insisting the supporters would be crucial in turning San Mamés into a fortress this season.
Catch up on all the boss had to say during his pre-match press conference.
Tickets are available via the Club’s official online ticket channel and at the San Mames ticket office between 10:30-13:30 on Tuesday morning.
The opponents
League position: 9th
Head coach: Andoni Iraola
The Rayo Vallecano boss, who is the fourth highest appearance maker in Athletic Club history with 510 matches, is sure to receive a warm welcome on his return to The Cathedral.
The former Athletic captain has not been back to San Mamés in an official capacity, neither as a player nor as a manager, since leaving for New York City FC at the end of the 2014-15 campaign.
Iraola took over at Rayo in August 2020 – his third managerial post after stints at AEK Larnaca and CD Mirandés – and has brought instant success, leading the Madrid-based team back into the top flight after winning last season’s LaLiga Smartbank play-offs.
Star man: Radamel Falcao
A surprise signing, joining Rayo on a free just two weeks ago, the Colombian’s reputation as a deadly striker is well founded.
Falcao scored 52 LaLiga goals in 68 appearances during his two-season spell at Atlético Madrid (2011-12, 2012-13).
Although it’s still early days, the forward has made an instant impact at Vallecas, making a goalscoring debut in his new team’s 3-0 win over Madrid rivals Getafe CF on Saturday.
Last match: 3-0 vs Getafe CF
Previous meetings
The Lions have a favourable record against Rayo at The Cathedral. The two sides first met in 1977-78, and have played a further 17 matches in Bilbao since then, with Athletic winning 13 matches, drawing three and losing two.
In fact, Los Rojiblancos won the last four meetings (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2018-19) and have not lost at home to Rayo since 2012-13.
The most recent clash was a five-goal thriller in 2018-19. A brace by Iñaki Williams plus a fierce Raúl García strike were enough to see Athletic take home all three points.