The Pride of Vallekas

This game's Rayo Report format is different simply because the game was, barring some fleeting chances, quite dull and marked by both teams being guarded. Cádiz vs Rayo. Starting lineups. Míchel made no changes from the side that drew 1-1 against Sporting Gijón. In contrast, Álvaro Cervera made three changes to the Cádiz lineup compared to the 2-1 loss to Betis in the Copa del Rey just four days before - goalkeeper Rubén Yáñez was replaced by Alberto Cifuentes, and wingers Dani Romera and Moha Traoré were replaced by Álvaro García and Salvi Sánchez respectively. Before this game, Rayo Vallecano were undefeated in their last 4 matches, and Cádiz had failed to win any of their last 7 matches; however, the game started with Rayo Vallecano looking shaky defensively, and Rayo were terrible throughout the game at keeping possession. Nevertheless, as the game progressed, both teams were cautious going forward and played to protect a point. Rayo's system was similar to pre...

Zero. Rayo had zero shots on goal. None. Zilch. Na-da. Meanwhile, Cádiz had a shot cleared off the line, a misplaced back-pass that should've gone in but was miraculously saved by Paulo Gazzaniga, and a deserved goal scored after a through ball that split the defense while at the same time nutmegging Antonio Amaya - and that was just the first 36 minutes. They then also hit the post and generally expose Rayo time and again, while Cádiz's goalkeeper made zero saves - 37-year-old Alberto Cifuentes barely moved the whole game. With this result, Rayo are now 21st out of 22 teams, joint-bottom, and just generally out of ideas. Creating chances isn't the problem - Rayo and Cádiz both had nine shots. The problem is when Patrick Ebert, the attacking midfielder, is shooting from 25+ yards while Manucho barely even tries to make a run. In a 2 vs 3 situation.  Pablo Clavería came on for Trashorras at half-time, with Jordi Gómez being replaced by M...