Rayo Vallecano Team News Page 4 - Soccer

Pathe Ciss - Available after suspension Ciss has served his one-game La Liga ban and may be selected again going forward.

Impact Ciss will compete for a center-back or midfield spot after being ineligible in Friday's win over Elche. While he's not guaranteed to play, he could share playing time with all of Oscar Valentin, Unai Lopez and Gerard Gumbau for the remainder of the season. If given the opportunity, the Senegalese will be valuable for defensive stats and occasional shots, having scored two goals while averaging 2.9 clearances and 2.3 tackles per game over his last seven league appearances.

APRIL 3 • ROTOWIRE

Nobel Mendy - Makes bench Friday Mendy (undisclosed) is on the bench for Friday's game against Elche.

Impact Mendy limped off the pitch while on international duty with Senegal earlier this week, but the defender has been deemed fit enough to be an option off the bench. The center-back pairing for this game will be Luiz Felipe and Florian Lejeune.

APRIL 3 • ROTOWIRE

Oscar Trejo - Won't play vs. Elche Trejo won't be available for Friday's game against Elche due to undisclosed reasons, according to Union Rayo.

Impact Trejo will be out of the squad for a second straight game, and while the reasons remain unknown, it's worth noting that manager Inigo Perez told media recently that the absence is "due to a decision that's not only sporting-related, but it'll be known soon."

APRIL 3 • ROTOWIRE

Rayo Vallecano vs Elche Prediction and Betting Tips | April 3rd 2026 Rayo Vallecano will invite Elche to the Estadio de Vallecas in La Liga on Friday. Vallecano are 14th in the standings and have a three-point lead over the 17th-placed visitors.

APRIL 1 • SPORTSKEEDA.COM

Nobel Mendy - Forced off Tuesday Mendy (undisclosed) was substituted before halftime in Tuesday's 3-1 win over Gambia and is a major doubt for Friday's clash against Elche, according to Jonay Amaro of Offsider.

Impact Mendy's early exit is a real concern for Rayo Vallecano with the Elche fixture arriving just days after the international break ends, leaving virtually no time to assess his fitness before the game. The nature of the issue remains unknown, but being replaced before halftime rarely signals anything minor. If Mendy cannot go on Friday, Luiz Felipe and Florian Lejeune are expected to form the central defensive partnership for the Franjirojos.

MARCH 31 • ROTOWIRE

Ilias Akhomach - Spotted in team training Akhomach (ankle) returned to full team training Tuesday and is on track to be available for Friday's clash against Elche, according to Union Rayo.

Impact Akhomach picked up a strong ankle contusion after a tough challenge from Manu Sanchez in stoppage time of the Levante match, forcing him to miss the Barcelona fixture on March 22 prior to the break. The winger was back touching the ball Monday and completed a full session with his teammates Tuesday, putting him right on the edge of availability for what is a quick turnaround with Rayo Vallecano playing just three days after the international break ends. If he comes through the rest of the week without any setbacks, Akhomach should be back in the fold and ready to provide the kind of attacking spark the team will desperately need heading into the final stretch of the season.

MARCH 31 • ROTOWIRE

Oscar Valentin - Busy defensive display in loss Oscar Valentin generated three tackles (three won) and two interceptions in Sunday's 1-0 defeat against Barcelona. In addition, he was given a yellow card in the 34th minute.

Impact Oscar Valentin was busy but was unable to prevent Barcelona from scoring one goal as they lost 1-0. This all came after 45 minutes, before he was subbed off, having received a yellow card. He won all three of his tackles and made two interceptions in the game. He has won three or more tackles in five games this season.

MARCH 23 • ROTOWIRE

Unai Lopez - Six crosses as a sub Lopez generated one shot (one on goal), six crosses (zero accurate) and five corners in Sunday's 1-0 loss to Barcelona.

Impact Lopez continued his run as a sub, only starting once in 11 games since the beginning of January. He didn't play in the previous game but came on with 31 minutes left in this game and took five corners. He has continued his run as Vallecano's second-highest set-piece taker. He has only attempted more crosses on two occasions this season.

MARCH 23 • ROTOWIRE

Augusto Batalla - Three saves but concedes away Batalla recorded three saves and allowed one goal in Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Barcelona.

Impact Batalla made three saves as his side lost 1-0 away to Barcelona. From 29 games this season, he has kept eight clean sheets. He has conceded one goal or fewer in each of the last seven games in La Liga, which have included two clean sheets. This game was the 16th of the 29 that he has played this year where he has kept a clean sheet.

MARCH 23 • ROTOWIRE

Ilias Akhomach - Still battling ankle issues Akhomach (ankle) missed Sunday's 1-0 defeat against Barcelona since he is still battling his issues, according to Pablo Villa from Radio Marca.

Impact Akhomach didn't make the matchday squad as he continues to deal with his recent ankle issue. The attacker will now look to use the international break to get back to full strength since he should have a regular role with Rayo Vallecano once he is fit, bringing the kind of game-changing spark they will need for the final stretch of the season.

MARCH 23 • ROTOWIRE

Pathe Ciss - Set for suspension Ciss will serve a one-match ban due to an accumulation of five yellow cards in the La Liga.

Impact Ciss picked up his fifth yellow card in La Liga play and will serve a one-match suspension for the next clash against Elche after the international break. The versatile midfielder has been a regular starter for Rayo Vallecano this season in both the midfield or back line, therefore his absence will be felt, with Gerard Gumbau getting a larger role for that game.

MARCH 23 • ROTOWIRE

"Should be jailed", "Might be cursed" - Fans slam Barcelona star despite 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano Fans reacted to Ferran Torres' performance in Barcelona's hard-fought 1-0 La Liga home win over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday (March 22).

MARCH 22 • SPORTSKEEDA.COM

"I lost my joy already", "Beginning of the end" - Barcelona fans worried about 27-year-old being part of line-up to face Rayo Vallecano Barcelona fans online were left disappointed with Ronald Araujo starting in their LaLiga clash against Rayo Vallecano on March 22.

MARCH 22 • SPORTSKEEDA.COM

Barcelona player ratings vs Rayo Vallecano: Ronald Araujo the unlikely hero while Joan Garcia stands tall on rare off days for Raphinha and Lamine Yamal in narrow La Liga win

Barcelona maintained their stranglehold on La Liga's title race on Sunday, though they were made to work hard for their 1-0 win over Rayo Va...

MARCH 22 • goal

Barcelona player ratings vs Rayo Vallecano: Ronald Araujo the unlikely hero while Joan Garcia stands tall on rare off days for Raphinha and Lamine Yamal in narrow La Liga win

Nobel Mendy - Option again Mendy has ended his suspension and is an option moving forward.

Impact Mendy is back in the fold following a one-game ban, set to play after the international break. With 17 starts in 18 appearances this season, while earning two goals and four clean sheets, he should return to a starting role in the defense.

MARCH 22 • ROTOWIRE

Where to watch Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano live in the USA: La Liga 2025/2026 Barcelona take on Rayo Vallecano in a Matchday 29 showdown of the 2025/26 La Liga season. Here's everything you need to know, including kick...

MARCH 22 • BOLAVIP.COM

Real Madrid faces Atletico in key La Liga derby as it tries to catch Barcelona

Real Madrid’s bid to catch Barcelona and win La Liga faces a critical test in the Spanish capital derby this weekend

MARCH 19 • Associated Press

Ilias Akhomach - Questionable Thursday Akhomach (ankle) will be assessed this afternoon to determine if he is fit to play against Samsunspor in the Conference League, after sustaining a bruise to his left ankle, accordi...

Impact Akhomach underwent tests after being forced off with an injury in the last match, which revealed a bruise to his left ankle, and he will be assessed this afternoon to determine his availability for Thursday's Conference League clash against Samsunspor, although the staff are not expected to take any risks. The Moroccan had been on the bench in the last two matches, so his potential absence should not be too impactful, with Alemao expected to start on the right wing.

MARCH 18 • ROTOWIRE

Ilias Akhomach - Suffers ankle sprain Akhomach played decently coming off bench in Monday's 1-1 draw against Levante before suffering an ankle sprain in the stoppage time, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Impact Akhomach flashed his full skill set off the bench in Monday's draw against Levante, logging two shots, two crosses and a chance created while consistently threatening down the right wing and making a strong case to crack the starting XI after being held out of the starting setup in the last two games. The Moroccan is trending toward more starts in the coming fixtures, though his status now hinges on his health after taking a heavy stoppage-time tackle from Manu Sanchez that resulted in an ankle sprain and left him in clear pain. He managed to return to the pitch, but he will be closely monitored in the coming days, and if he is forced to miss time, Jorge De Frutos is in line to step back into the right-wing role, which would keep the striker spot open for Alemao.

MARCH 17 • ROTOWIRE

Ciss scores contested late goal to give Rayo Vallecano draw with Levante

A controversial late goal from Pathé Ciss has given Rayo Vallecano a 1-1 draw at home against Levante in La Liga

MARCH 16 • Associated Press

RAYO VALLECANO 1 - 1 LEVANTE UD | RESUMEN LALIGA EA SPORTS

MARCH 16 • YOUTUBE

Florian Lejeune - Tallies assist Lejeune assisted once to go with three shots (zero on goal) and one chance created in Monday's 1-1 draw versus Levante.

Impact Lejeune helped get the lone goal for Rayo on Monday, recording an assist while winning a tackle and blocking two shots while winning four aerials. In the last five starts, the defender has won five tackles and 20 aerials, keeping a clean sheet with six blocks made in that span.

MARCH 16 • ROTOWIRE

Pathe Ciss - Nets one Ciss scored one goal to go with one shot (one on goal) in Monday's 1-1 draw against Levante.

Impact Ciss recorded the lone goal for Rayo Vallecano on Monday, getting just the one shot on target. He's made five appearances since Jan 24, starting three of them while recording two goals on two shots on target, two key passes and winning five tackles in that span.

MARCH 16 • ROTOWIRE

Augusto Batalla - Makes four saves Batalla had four saves and allowed one goal in Monday's 1-1 draw against Levante.

Impact Batalla had a solid effort Monday, recording four saves with one high claim while allowing just a goal to Levante. He's only conceded four goals in the last five appearances, totaling 11 saves with two high claims in that span. The keeper will head to Barcelona for the next game on Sunday, who have scored 14 goals in the last five contests.

MARCH 16 • ROTOWIRE

Nobel Mendy - Sent off Monday Mendy received a red card during Monday's meeting with Levante.

Impact Mendy was shown a second yellow card, leaving his side with 10 men for the final 37 minutes of the match. The defender will now be suspended for a league visit to Barcelona, where Luiz Felipe may have a chance to join Florian Lejeune in the middle of the defense. The Senegalese will be available again in La Liga play for an April 3 game versus Elche, though he should be able to stay active in UEFA Conference League action.

MARCH 16 • ROTOWIRE

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Barcelona player ratings vs Rayo Vallecano: Ronald Araujo the unlikely hero while Joan Garcia stands tall on rare off days for Raphinha and Lamine Yamal in narrow La Liga win

Real Madrid faces Atletico in key La Liga derby as it tries to catch Barcelona

Ciss scores contested late goal to give Rayo Vallecano draw with Levante