Elche CF secured a decisive 0-3 victory against Rayo Vallecano at the Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas, in a match heavily influenced by ongoing supporter protests against club president Raúl Martín Presa. The result was determined by two first-half penalties and a second-half strike, while the atmosphere remained tense despite a temporary truce negotiated between the club and fan groups during the week.
Penalties and Tactical Control at Vallecas
The visiting side established an early lead after a foul by Florian Lejeune on Elche’s Revivo in the penalty area. Redondo converted the resulting spot-kick in the 23rd minute. Elche maintained pressure, hitting the post in the 29th minute, before earning a second penalty in the 36th minute. Referee Miguel Sesma Espinosa, following a VAR review, whistled for a foul by Pathé Ciss on Thomas Lemar. Fer Niño successfully converted the penalty to extend the lead to 0-2.
Rayo Vallecano had an immediate opportunity to respond just before halftime when Buba Sangaré was penalized for a handball. However, Pathé Ciss struck the crossbar, failing to convert the penalty. Following the restart, the home side dominated possession and increased their offensive intensity, but they were unable to breach the Elche defense. In the 68th minute, Germán Valera secured the 0-3 final score with a chip shot over goalkeeper Emil Audero.
The Atmosphere of Protest
The match took place under a cloud of fan discontent directed at Raúl Martín Presa. While a temporary ceasefire had been negotiated in the 24 hours leading up to the game—preventing planned disruptions involving the distribution of 5,000 replica subscription documents and 8,500 rubber balls—the protest remained visible throughout the stadium. Fans chanted slogans such as “Rayo yes, Presa no” and “Presa, go away.”
In the 16th minute, a chant of “It’s not the background, it’s the neighborhood” drew applause from the stands. The Bukaneros stand remained closed for the fixture. A banner installed by the Anti-Violence Commission, calling for the condemnation of violent acts and support for fair play, was displayed over the closed section but was removed during the first half of the match.
Rayo Vallecano Restores Red Sash to Calm Fan Protests
The decision by fan groups to temper their planned protests followed a recent announcement from the club regarding the refund of ticket money for matches previously played at Butarque, as well as the restoration of the traditional red sash (“la franja”) on the team’s kit. Despite these concessions, the chants against the club’s leadership persisted throughout the 90 minutes. The result leaves Rayo Vallecano to regroup as they look toward their next competitive fixture, while Elche continues to build momentum following this away win.
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