Rayo Vallecano
Elche
Match summary
Elche won comfortably, 3-0 away at Rayo Vallecano. Elche led 2-0 at half-time.
Federico Redondo put Elche ahead from the penalty spot in the 24th minute, Fernando Niño made it 0-2 from the penalty spot in the 36th minute, and German Valera made it 0-3 in the 68th minute, set up by Facundo Buonanotte.
The chances backed that up: Elche created 2.40 expected goals (xG) from 16 shots to Rayo Vallecano's 1.23 from 18. Pathé Ciss hit the woodwork from the penalty spot for Rayo Vallecano.
Rayo Vallecano dominated possession with 57 percent and registered 18 shots compared to 16 for Elche during their La Liga fixture on matchday 10. Despite controlling 124 attacks and recording 75 dangerous attacks alongside 493 passes with an 88 percent pass accuracy, the home side failed to convert their territorial advantage into goals. Elche utilised their opportunities efficiently, landing 9 shots on target out of 16 attempts, whereas Rayo Vallecano managed 5 shots on target. Both teams accumulated 3 corners each, while discipline saw 3 yellow cards issued to Rayo Vallecano and 3 to Elche amidst a total of 26 fouls.
The match timeline saw Elche take control early when Javi Morcillo received a yellow card in the 10th minute for a foul. Federico Redondo opened the scoring with a penalty goal in the 23rd minute, before picking up a yellow card alongside teammate Gonzalo Villar in the 30th minute. Following a VAR review in the 33rd minute, Pathé Ciss received a yellow card for Rayo Vallecano in the 35th minute, leading to a second penalty goal scored by Fer Niño in the 36th minute to make it 0-2. Pathé Ciss missed a penalty for Rayo Vallecano in the 39th minute. After a series of second-half substitutions, Germán Valera scored Elche's third goal with a left foot shot in the 68th minute to seal the 0-3 victory.
