Must-win contest at Vallecas

Rayo Vallecano and Real Sociedad de Fútbol will face each other in a must-win contest on Saturday. Both sides haven’t won since the first round of Liga BBVA matches this season.

Paco Jémez’s side downed Elche CF 3-0 thanks to goals from Alberto Bueno and Alberto Perea in the opening round of games, allowing Rayo make a dream start to the season. However, six consecutive defeats have left Rayo at the foot of the table. The team from Madrid have let in 21 goals in their seven games so far this season; the most by any side in the division.

Jagoba Arrasate’s men fare only a little better. Like Rayo, Sociedad started the season with a win at home, 2-0 against Getafe CF. However, the side from San Sebastián were unable to push on, and four draws and two losses in the following six games leaves Real Sociedad in 13th position overall. As if that wasn’t enough, they come from the hammer-blow of conceding a last minute winner against Bayer 04 Leverkusen in their 2-1 UEFA Champions League defeat this week.

"We need to remember that they’re not going to give it us, if we want to win, it will be down to our hard work. I still think they’re a great side in spite of the loss in Germany. Out wide and up top they have players of the highest calibre", said Rayo boss Jémez.
His counterpart at the Basque outfit also praised the opposition: "Rayo like to play with the ball. When they have it they dictate play well, and when they don’t they pressure you, even right up top, because they always want the ball back. The match will ask a lot of us", said Arrasate.