Beñat San José leads his new squad away against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid, Spain.
Stepping Into the Rayo Vallecano Hotseat
Beñat San José arrives at Vallecas with an extensive coaching career spanning clubs across seven different countries, including stints in Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia. He inherits a squad that enjoyed sustained success under predecessor Íñigo Pérez, who guided the team to a historic appearance in the UEFA Europa Conference League final last term alongside three consecutive top-flight survivals.
Roster Changes and Squad Depth
The Madrid club retains much of the core group that delivered European qualification and solid league performances over recent seasons. However, the squad enters the campaign without veteran Argentine playmaker Óscar Trejo, who has retired. Additional departures include Ghanaian central defender Abdul Mumin, Uruguayan left-back ‘Pacha’ Espino, and loanees Ilias Akhomach, Gerard Gumbau, and Carlos Martín. To reinforce the backline, the club secured central defender Marash Kumbulla on loan from AS Roma, with the Albanian international already possessing prior La Liga experience from spells with Espanyol and Mallorca.
Key figures expected to anchor San José’s lineup include Argentine goalkeeper Augusto Batalla, French central defender Florian Lejeune, midfielders Óscar Valentín and Pathé Ciss, attacking midfielder Jorge de Frutos, wingers Álvaro García and Isi Palazón, and forward Sergio Camello. Despite keeping the nucleus intact, pre-season friendly fixtures produced mixed results, prompting questions about how quickly the team will adapt to San José’s tactical approach.
The Estadio de Vallecas Stadium Crisis
Beyond sporting preparations, Rayo Vallecano begins the new season under a cloud of administrative conflict. The Comunidad de Madrid, which owns the Estadio de Vallecas, temporarily withdrew the club’s stadium usage concession due to what authorities described as severe structural deficiencies, widespread obsolescence, and regulatory non-compliance while renovation work is undertaken. Consequently, the club examined alternative venues to host early home fixtures, initially targeting El Plantío in Burgos before shifting discussions toward Butarque, the home stadium of CD Leganés where the club previously played an isolated match during past stadium issues.
This infrastructure dispute has further widened the chasm between supporters and club president Raúl Martín Presa. Local fans, deeply connected to the neighborhood identity of Vallecas, have intensified protests demanding Martín Presa’s resignation, citing alleged neglect of the club’s youth academy, women’s football section, and charitable foundation.
Match Context and Next Checkpoint
Rayo Vallecano plays Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday, kicking off a demanding opening stretch under new management. Following the fixture in the Spanish capital, the club continues its league schedule while monitoring updates regarding the operational status of its home ground and potential relocation arrangements for upcoming fixtures.
Related reading
