Rayo earn a vital victory in the fight for survival

Turning the tables
Getafe CF started the match by throwing men forward and pressing Rayo Vallecano as they tried to play the ball out, giving their opponents virtually no time in possession. The tactic worked, with Rayo barely able to venture out of their own half in the opening 10 minutes. Pablo Sarabia even had a brilliant chance to put his side ahead, but Juan Carlos saved his shot from a corner kick. However, Rayo managed to shake off the pressure and the face of the game underwent a radical change, with the home team boasting 63% of the possession as they headed into the dressing room at the interval.

Javi Guerra, the opportunist
With Rayo starting to dominate possession and encroach on their opponents' area, the goal was not long in coming. Once again, as on so many occasions this season, the threat came from a set piece. Following a corner, Raul Baena forced Vicente Guaita into a superb save, but the ball fell to Miku. Guaita was once again called into action to block the Venezuelan's shot, but the rebound found the perfectly placed Javi Guerra, who just needed to prod the ball home to make it 1-0. From then on, Rayo almost completely dominated the rest of the first half. 

Miku on cue again
The game was much more evenly matched in the second half. Getafe managed to get themselves back into the game and started to close in on Juan Carlos's goalmouth. The next goal could have come at either end, but it was Miku who netted for Rayo. The striker got ahead of his marker and connected perfectly with Pablo Hernandez's cross in from the right to double his side's advantage with 19 minutes left to play. 

FULL TIME | @RVMOficial 2-0 @GetafeCF (Javi Guerra 15, Miku 71)#RVMvGET pic.twitter.com/KRAcr419Cw

— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) April 1, 2016

Solid at the back
Getafe attempted to turn things around and pushed up the pitch in search a goal to rekindle their hopes, but the home team – with the worst defensive record in the Liga BBVA – stood firm at the back, barely allowing their opponents to create any kind of a threat in the final minutes. The last time the Madrilenians kept a clean sheet they went on to win the game, and that was the case again today.

Three golden points
Victory for Rayo gives them three points which may well turn out to be vital in the fight for survival in the Liga BBVA. Rayo now sit on 31 points, three ahead of Getafe, who top the drop zone after stringing together their 11th game without a win. The Vallecas outfit also have the jump on Getafe when it comes to their head-to-head record, with the meeting between the two sides earlier this season having finished 1-1.