With October providing a number of disappointing draws, November saw Rayo Vallecano face Albacete, Zaragoza, Barcelona B and Tenerife.
Albacete
Rayo welcomed another ideological rival as the Ultras of Albacete have traditionally and continue to be strong supporters of Spanish right wing politics. This no more so represented by the signing of Vallecas’ public enemy number one, Roman Zuzulia. To refresh your memories, in January of this year Rayo completed the signing of the Ukranian only for a mass fan campaign and repeated demonstrations at the training ground lead to him being sent back to Real betis. The reason? That he was a vocal supporter of a Ukranian neo-Nazi political group, to which there has been much debate about. The case received widespread international coverage and his presence had been one of the things Rayo fans had spoke about since he completed his move to Albacete.
His abscense coupled with the kick off time meant the stadium was as empty as it had been all season with large empty spaces particularly in the corners. Luckily there is noChinese audiance to cater to in the second division meaning no fine is awaiting the club (See Celta Vigo case). When I ask my friend why the stadium is so empty, he tells me in a tone that portrays the answer is obvious that ‘it’s the hour of siesta’, enough said.
The game truthfully is as poor as Rayo have been at home, controlling the ball and the majority of the play as per usual but creating very little except the goal as the players give the fans present the siesta experiencing they have given up by attending the match. The match finishes 1-1 after Raul de Tomás gets a late equaliser for Rayo following a second half onslaught.
The game and the atmosphere is one of the most disappointing ive experienced this season. Even the post match beer in the Moreno is void of any real life, maybe due to lack of talking points from the match itself.
Flickr / Tom Brogan
Real Zaragoza (away)
I’ve never been to Chicago, nor do I see myself visiting anytime soon. However it is hard to imagine a city more deserving of the title ‘Windy City’ than Zaragoza. From the moment I exit the car until the moment I re-enter it the next day I am lashed with rain so strong that my face is continually squinting until the following Wednesday. The city is peculiar, a stunning historic centre but such a large sprawling modern mediocre suburb dilutes the beauty of the centre. The day begins with a menu of the day and very nice Aragon red wine which gives a temporary retreat from the wind, however we are soon thrown into full of its powers on the 40 minute walk to the stadium which is accompanied by a few beers for the walk. The work introduces us to another peculiar feature of the city, the absence of people. Perhaps due to the hour but we see about 7 people in total on the walk, while even around the stadium there is little atmosphere that would be reminisce that of a football match.
The match itself is a thriller. Rayo have two clear chances but el Torero (Raul de Tomas) fluffs both which is costly as Zaragoza score from a corner before adding a second through a nicely worked move. The goals do little to dampen us and all of the 300 or so Rayo fans do not stop singing throughout half time while Zaragoza’s never begin. Zaragoza have two sets of ultras which are ideologically separated and this split is visually represented by the two of them being located in opposing ends of the stadium. Despite their political passions, this is not reflected in the support as they fail to generate much noise or passion in the stadium. Rayo begin the second half strongly and score two goals with talisman Oscar Trejo sending our small section even more delirious. As Rayo send more and more forward in search of the victory, Zaragoza rob possession and break to score a decisive third goal. While frustrated the travelling remain in the now deserted stadium singing to the bemused stewards.
Bizarrely as we decide to make our way home, one of the group makes the declaration that he has not brought anything other than his tracksuit bottoms leading to us searching for a shop in the suburbs of Zaragoza at 9pm on a Saturday evening. Slightly tipsy we stumble into what appears to be Zaragoza opera house and are received by hundreds of well dressed manyos (name given to Zaragoza natives) enjoying their pre-show drinks and all simultaniously turning to look at five men in football shirts. The night itself is jovial and the narrow tapas bar filled streets of Zaragoza around the cathedral are well worth a visit but there is no repeat of Cadiz of hundreds of Rayo fans joined by our Cadiz counterparts taking over the streets.
Barcelona B
Due to sickness I was not passed fit to attend the game, which Rayo scraped a 1-0 win courtesy of Oscar Trejo.
