Author: Barkha Roy
Almería – Rayo Vallecano – 0:2
To start the new La Liga season, Rayo Vallecano striker Randy Nteka showed his skill by scoring one goal and orchestrating another, leading his team to a decisive 2-0 win against Almería.
Taking charge from the start in the league opener, Rayo took the spotlight with two quick penalties, marking the debut of newly appointed coach Francisco Rodríguez. Rodríguez took over after the departure of the successful Andoni Iraola, who ventured into the Premier League with Bournemouth.
Midfielder extraordinaire Isi Palazón, known for topping Rayo’s scoring list last season, elegantly slotted home a penalty 20 minutes into the second half. The opportunity arose after a controversial foul was committed by Almería defender Edgar González on Nteka inside the area during a ball dispute.
Randy Nteka, who had honed his skills on loan at Elche in the second half of the previous season, once again showed his elegance. Just eight minutes after the initial penalty, Nteka masterfully struck the ball into the corner of the net from the penalty spot. Almería’s Sergio Akieme was penalized for an intentional handball, blocking a cross from Nteka inside the area.
The previous season, Rayo Vallecano flirted with the prospect of securing a place in the coveted Europa League, which ended in an 11th-place finish. Embarking on a mission to further strengthen their squad, Rayo took significant steps during the summer transfer window. In particular, central defender Aridane Hernandez joined the team from Osasuna, improving the team’s defensive capabilities. In addition, left-back Alfonso Espino, acquired from Cadiz, has injected a new dynamic into the team.
Sevilla – Valencia – 1:2
In a different kind of match at the start of the Spanish league season, a lively Valencia side beat a 10-man Sevilla side 2-1, giving a glimpse of their rising talents. At the same time, the local media is speculating about Real Madrid’s possible interest in acquiring Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
The reason behind this speculation is the unfortunate injury suffered by Thibaut Courtois, who ruptured a knee ligament on Thursday and is expected to be sidelined for several months
. Despite these uncertainties, Bounou has confidently taken his place in Sevilla’s starting line-up.
Valencia coach Rubén Baraja made an unconventional move by positioning central defender Mouctar Diakhaby as a box-to-box holding midfielder. The gamble paid off as Diakhaby, showing his energy and ability to win balls, scored in the 59th minute. Sevilla reacted and striker Youssef En-Nesyri equalized in the 69th minute, taking advantage of a cross from Suso.
The spotlight fell on 20-year-old substitute Javi Guerra, who had caught the eye for his skills in the previous campaign. Guerra’s moment came in the 88th minute, when he scored the decisive goal after Sevilla suffered a setback with defender Loic Bade’s red card.
Hugo Duro was crucial to Valencia’s success, his determination leading to decisive moments. Duro was on the run when Bade fouled him from behind, which led to the defender receiving a straight red card in the 80th minute. Shortly afterwards, Duro’s involvement near the Sevilla penalty area set the stage for Guerra’s assist, which led to the winning goal.
After narrowly escaping relegation the previous season and suffering significant player departures, including Samuel Lino, Edinson Cavani, Yunus Musah, Justin Kluivert, Ilaix Moriba and Nico González, Valencia faced a challenging transition. The club’s few signings have caused concern among fans due to a perceived lack of investment from the owner, Singaporean businessman Peter Lim.
Valencia’s victory was further boosted by the outstanding performances of attacking players Diego López and Fran Pérez, aged 21 and 20 respectively. His contributions were key to orchestrating the comeback against Sevilla, who had won the Europa League the previous season.
Brazilians in these matches
- Lazaro played the first half for Almeria and was substituted at half-time. Kaiki remained in the reserves. Leo Baptistão is still out of action, continuing to treat his injured calf.
- Fernando played 69 minutes for Sevilla, without standing out at any point. His compatriot Gabriel Paulista spent the whole match for Valencia and was one of the best on the pitch.