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Dive into Bwin’s post-match review of Elche 4-0 Rayo Vallecano in the La Liga on Sunday, 21 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.
Elche secured a convincing 4-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano. The hosts took an early lead when Héctor Fort scored in the 6th minute, assisted by Álvaro Rodríguez, setting a dominant tone that built on their recent home wins like the 3-0 against Girona. An early substitution saw Martim Neto replace Héctor Fort in the 12th minute, but Elche maintained control despite Rayo Vallecano’s slight possession edge, with the visitors struggling to convert chances amid their run of draws and losses.
The game remained 1-0 until the second half, when Álvaro Rodríguez extended the lead in the 67th minute with an assist from Pedro Bigas, followed quickly by Germán Valera’s goal in the 70th minute, again assisted by Álvaro Rodríguez. Late yellow cards for both sides, including Aleix Febas in the 79th and Josan in the 84th for Elche, added tension, but Martim Neto sealed the win with a 90+1st-minute goal assisted by Josan. This result contrasts with Elche’s mixed recent form, including a 1-3 loss to Mallorca, while Rayo Vallecano’s winless streak continued after draws against Real Betis and Valencia.
Rayo Vallecano edged possession with 53% compared to Elche’s 47%, suggesting they controlled more of the ball, but Elche made better use of their opportunities, recording four assists while Rayo had none. The visitors also led slightly in corners (5-4) and successful dribbles (67-63), pointing to a more attacking intent on the break, yet they failed to score, highlighting Elche’s defensive solidity despite picking up two yellow cards against Rayo Vallecano’s three.
Both teams used all five substitutions, with Elche making changes like Martim Neto coming on for Héctor Fort at 12 minutes, and a triple switch at 80 minutes where Josan replaced Marc Aguado, Yago Santiago came on for Álvaro Rodríguez, and Léo Pétrot took over from Pedro Bigas, followed by Adam Boayar replacing Rafa Mir at 89 minutes. Rayo Vallecano’s adjustments included Fran Pérez replacing Iván Balliu at 33 minutes, Pedro Díaz for Óscar Valentín at 60 minutes, and a triple change at 75 minutes with Luiz Felipe for Nobel Mendy, Gerard Gumbau for Unai López, and Jozhua Vertrouwd for Alfonso Espino, but these failed to shift the momentum.
Elche struck first in the 6th minute as Héctor Fort found the net with an assist from Álvaro Rodríguez, giving them an early advantage that shaped the match. An injury-forced substitution followed at 12 minutes when Martim Neto came on for Héctor Fort, but the hosts stayed composed. Rayo Vallecano picked up an early yellow card for Nobel Mendy in the 22nd minute for a foul, and another for Unai López in the 57th for persistent infringement, disrupting their rhythm.
The second half turned decisively with Álvaro Rodríguez scoring in the 67th minute, assisted by Pedro Bigas, before Germán Valera added a third in the 70th minute with another assist from Álvaro Rodríguez. Late drama included yellow cards for Elche’s Aleix Febas in the 79th for a tactical foul and Josan in the 84th for dissent, plus Rayo Vallecano’s Florian Lejeune in the 82nd for a heavy challenge, but Martim Neto capped the win with a 90+1st-minute goal assisted by Josan after a series of substitutions bolstered Elche’s attack.
Elche lined up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Pedro Bigas anchoring the defence and providing an assist for Álvaro Rodríguez’s goal, while the midfield partnership of players like Marc Aguado offered stability until his replacement by Josan at 80 minutes. Up front, Álvaro Rodríguez and Rafa Mir led the line, with Rodríguez shining through his goal and two assists, supported by wing play from Germán Valera who scored in the 70th minute. Substitutes like Martim Neto, who came on early for Héctor Fort and later scored, added depth to their attacking options.
Rayo Vallecano deployed a 4-2-3-1 setup, relying on midfielders like Unai López and Óscar Valentín for control, though López’s yellow card in the 57th and substitutions such as Pedro Díaz coming on for Valentín at 60 minutes aimed to refresh the engine room. Defensively, Nobel Mendy and Florian Lejeune formed a key partnership, but Mendy’s early yellow in the 22nd and Lejeune’s caution in the 82nd highlighted vulnerabilities, with changes like Luiz Felipe replacing Mendy at 75 minutes seeking to shore things up. Attacking threats came through players like Alfonso Espino, replaced by Jozhua Vertrouwd at 75 minutes, but they lacked the finishing touch.
Álvaro Rodríguez earned Bwin’s Man of the Match award for his standout performance, scoring one goal and providing two assists that directly contributed to Elche’s dominance. He also created two big chances and delivered three key passes, showcasing his influence in breaking down Rayo Vallecano’s defence. After starting the game, he was substituted at 80 minutes for Yago Santiago, but his earlier efforts had already secured the win.
Recent La Liga matches:
Recent La Liga matches:
Elche have just defeated Rayo Vallecano 4-0, boosting their position to ninth on 22 points after a mixed run that includes a home draw with Real Madrid and an away loss to Mallorca. This win keeps them in the hunt for a higher finish, and they now face a tough test against fourth-placed Villarreal, who sit on 35 points, on 3 January 2026 at 17:30. A positive result could help Elche close the gap on the European spots, building on their strong home form.
Rayo Vallecano have just suffered a 4-0 defeat to Elche, leaving them in 15th on 18 points amid a poor streak featuring draws with Real Betis and Valencia, plus losses to Espanyol. This loss increases the pressure to avoid the drop zone, and their next fixture against 11th-placed Getafe, who have 20 points, on 2 January 2026 at 20:00 offers a chance to bounce back. Picking up points here is crucial to pull away from relegation danger, given their recent inability to secure wins.
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