Match report

Espanyol Defeats Rayo Vallecano 1-0 In La Liga

Espanyol
Espanyol
1–0
FT
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano
Dec 7, 2025

Espanyol secured a hard-fought victory over Rayo Vallecano with a narrow 1-0 win in their La Liga clash on December 7, 2025. The match was marked by several key incidents including multiple red and yellow cards. R. Fernandez Jaen scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the 39th minute.

Key Facts

  • • Final Score: Espanyol 1 - Rayo Vallecano 0
  • • Goal Scorer: R. Fernandez Jaen (Penalty, 39') for Espanyol
  • • Red Card: Unai López (Rayo Vallecano) in the 64th minute
  • • Yellow Cards: P. Lozano (Espanyol), Unai López (twice), Nobel Mendy, G. Gumbau, O. Valentin, Josep Chavarría, U. Gonzalez, T. Dolan for Espanyol; I. Balliu for Rayo Vallecano
  • • Substitutions: Several key substitutions were made by both sides throughout the game

Lineups

Espanyol

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 13 M. Dmitrovic (G)
  • 23 O. El Hilali (D)
  • 5 F. Calero (D)
  • 6 L. Cabrera (D)
  • 22 C. Romero (D)
  • 4 U. Gonzalez (M)
  • 10 P. Lozano (M)
  • 24 T. Dolan (M)
  • 8 Exposito (M)
  • 11 P. Milla (M)
  • 9 R. Fernandez Jaen (F)

Substitutes

  • 1 A. Fortuno
  • 2 R. Sanchez
  • 12 J. Salinas
  • 14 R. Terrats
  • 15 M. Rubio
  • 16 L. Koleosho
  • 17 Jofre
  • 18 C. Pickel
  • 19 K. Garcia
  • 20 A. Roca
  • 27 J. Hernandez

Rayo Vallecano

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 13 A. Batalla (G)
  • 2 A. Ratiu (D)
  • 24 F. Lejeune (D)
  • 32 N. Mendy (D)
  • 3 P. Chavarria (D)
  • 23 O. Valentin (M)
  • 17 U. Lopez (M)
  • 7 I. Palazon (M)
  • 15 G. Gumbau (M)
  • 21 F. Perez (M)
  • 19 J. de Frutos (F)

Substitutes

  • 1 D. Cardenas
  • 40 A. Molina
  • 5 Luiz Felipe
  • 10 S. Camello
  • 11 R. Nteka
  • 18 A. Garcia
  • 20 I. Balliu
  • 28 S. Becerra
  • 33 J. Vertrouwd

Timeline

  1. Rayo Vallecano
    16' Rayo Vallecano Card · Yellow Card
    Unai López

    Foul

  2. Espanyol
    31' Espanyol Card · Yellow Card
    P. Lozano

    Foul

  3. Espanyol
    39' Espanyol Goal · Penalty
    R. Fernandez Jaen
  4. Rayo Vallecano
    42' Rayo Vallecano Card · Yellow Card
    Nobel Mendy

    Foul

  5. Rayo Vallecano
    50' Rayo Vallecano Card · Yellow Card
    G. Gumbau

    Foul

  6. Rayo Vallecano
    52' Rayo Vallecano subst · Substitution 1
    Off: G. Gumbau · On: S. Camello
  7. Espanyol
    56' Espanyol subst · Substitution 1
    Off: P. Lozano · On: C. Pickel
  8. Rayo Vallecano
    63' Rayo Vallecano Card · Yellow Card
    O. Valentin

    Foul

  9. Rayo Vallecano
    64' Rayo Vallecano Card · Yellow Card
    Unai López

    Foul

  10. Rayo Vallecano
    64' Rayo Vallecano Card · Red Card
    Unai López

    Foul

  11. Espanyol
    67' Espanyol Var · Penalty cancelled
    C. Pickel
  12. Rayo Vallecano
    70' Rayo Vallecano subst · Substitution 2
    Off: J. de Frutos · On: Álvaro García
  13. Rayo Vallecano
    70' Rayo Vallecano subst · Substitution 3
    Off: F. Perez · On: I. Balliu
  14. Rayo Vallecano
    73' Rayo Vallecano Card · Yellow Card
    Josep Chavarría

    Foul

  15. Espanyol
    76' Espanyol Card · Yellow Card
    U. Gonzalez

    Foul

  16. Espanyol
    77' Espanyol Card · Yellow Card
    T. Dolan

    Simulation

  17. Espanyol
    80' Espanyol subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Exposito · On: R. Terrats
  18. Espanyol
    80' Espanyol subst · Substitution 3
    Off: R. Fernandez Jaen · On: K. Garcia
  19. Espanyol
    84' Espanyol Var · Goal cancelled
    K. Garcia
  20. Rayo Vallecano
    86' Rayo Vallecano subst · Substitution 4
    Off: Nobel Mendy · On: R. Nteka
  21. Rayo Vallecano
    87' Rayo Vallecano Card · Yellow Card
    Augusto Batalla

    Argument

  22. Espanyol
    87' Espanyol Card · Red Card
    T. Dolan

    Foul

  23. Espanyol
    89' Espanyol subst · Substitution 4
    Off: P. Milla · On: Rubén Sánchez
  24. Rayo Vallecano
    90'+6 Rayo Vallecano Card · Yellow Card
    I. Balliu

    Foul

Match Stats

Stat Espanyol Rayo Vallecano
Fouls 19 22
Pass Accuracy 73% 83%
Offsides 1 1
Red Cards 1 1
Total Shots 9 6
Corners 6 2
Total Passes 234 427
Yellow Cards 4 8
Blocked Shots 2 3
Shots on Target 2 2
xG 1.33 0.25
Shots off Target 5 1
Possession 36% 64%
Goals Prevented 0 0
Accurate Passes 171 355
Shots Inside Box 6 2
Saves 2 1
Shots Outside Box 3 4

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Espanyol took the lead through R. Fernandez Jaen's penalty in the 39th minute, which proved crucial for their victory.
  • ▸ The dismissal of Rayo Vallecano's Unai López in the 64th minute shifted momentum towards Espanyol, who managed to hold onto a narrow advantage despite being down to ten players.