Rayo continues its exile from Vallecas and this Saturday, again in Butarque, hosted a Racing team that achieved its first victory last weekend. Beñat San José’s team arrived with one point on the board and with the mess with the Community of Madrid to return to their neighborhood to play. But the fans who traveled to Leganés and the stellar start of Camello along with a Ratiu who ultimately stays with the Vallecano team, turned Butarque into Vallecas to give the stripe team their first victory.
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In a rock and roll first half in Butarque, Sergio Canales put his mark on his return to the Cantabrian team three minutes in. The midfielder carefully placed the ball at the edge of the area to shoot a free kick and with an exquisite inside-foot strike he nailed the shot into the top corner to put Racing ahead. The early blow did not change Beñat San José’s plans, who continues with a style very similar to the legacy left by Iñigo Pérez: very wide play on the wings with the fullbacks joining in and looking for the number 9 to finish plays.
And with that style came Rayo’s equalizer after Ciss obstructed Ratiu in a shot inside the area following a corner. In a quick transition by the Vallecano team, Camello received with his back to goal, set up Ratiu — back in the starting lineup after his move to the Premier League was cut short this summer transfer window — and the Romanian shot across to the top corner. Celebration as a protest from the right back: fingers in ears while Presa bowed his head in the presidential box.
Rayo grew against a Racing that wanted the ball eagerly. And in one of their high presses, Óscar Valentín lost the ball at the edge of the area and with the ball loose, Pablo García — who joined the Cantabrian team in the last hours of the market and left Betis’s training ground in tears —, very clever, shot at goal while Cárdenas was caught off guard between the posts. The goalkeeper did not manage to stop the shot and Racing went ahead again.
“Try to defend higher. We’re going to play a 4-5-1,” said José Alberto López to his players to try to counter Rayo’s play. The match was heading to halftime, but Camello, sweet in this start of the season after being a substitute practically last season, emerged. In a very quick play by Ratiu, the Romanian left the ball at the edge of the area for Unai López, who with a subtle outside touch lifted the ball over the defense and Camello shot alone in the area to equalize the match for the second time.
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After the break, Rayo came out with much more impetus for the goal and it came quickly. Barely a couple of minutes after the start of the second half, Camello scored again with a play practically identical to his first goal. Filtered pass from Unai and a shot under the legs to beat Agirrezabala. Beñat San José’s team went for a fourth goal that did not come and as the minutes passed they took a step back. Changes came and Racing pushed Rayo more and more towards their area. Zabiri scored for the Cantabrian team in the 79th, but the goal was disallowed for a foul on Dani Cárdenas.
The goal disallowed for Real Racing Club due to a foul by Belocian on Dani Cárdenas. #LALIGAEASPORTS #LaCasaDelFútbol pic.twitter.com/dGmPNk119p
— Movistar Plus Deportes (@MPlusDeportes) September 5, 2026
Rayo gets its first three points and breathes fresh air on the eve of the resolution of the future of their stadium. Although Beñat San José will face his next match at the Bernabéu against Real Madrid without his two right-wing wingers, both sent off: Fran Pérez and Jorge de Frutos.
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