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The newly promoted team from Vallecas haven’t lost in front of their own fans all campaign.
Without a doubt, one of the stories of the 2021/22 season so far has been Rayo Vallecano and their incredible start to this LaLiga Santander campaign. After coming up through the LaLiga SmartBank playoffs last term, the team from Vallecas have stayed near the top of the Spanish first division’s table all season and their spectacular home form has been the driving force of this bright start.
With eight wins, two draws and a goal difference of +16 from their first 10 home fixtures of the season, Rayo Vallecano have the best home form in LaLiga Santander. But, looking at the other top leagues around Europe, the team coached by Andoni Iraola also stand out.
Rayo have the very best home goals conceded record out of all LaLiga Santander, Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 clubs, with just four visiting goals so far in league play. The only clubs from these leagues with more points from their first 10 home league games than Rayo’s 26 are PSG and Borussia Dortmund, with 28 and 27 respectively, although the latter have lost one of their home fixtures, something the fans at the Estadio de Vallecas haven’t yet experienced.
It is an impressive record and even more so considering that Rayo were playing in the second tier just last season. Here, then, comes a look at some of the reasons for this continent-leading home form.
The solid defence
Across Europe’s top five leagues, no team other than Rayo Vallecano has conceded just four home league goals all season. They let one in during their recent 1-1 draw with Real Betis, while the other three goals conceded came in victories against Cádiz CF, Elche CF and RCD Mallorca. Their other six home matches so far have produced clean sheets, with goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski enjoying an outstanding season so far. He has been well-protected by Alejandro Catena and Esteban Saveljich in central defence too, meaning Rayo’s defence is one of the stingiest in Spain, on the road too but especially at home.
Radamel Falcao’s arrival
At the other end, there are many talented players in the capital city side’s attack. The most famous of all, though, is Radamel Falcao, with the 35-year-old Colombian joining the club at the very end of the summer transfer window. Making his debut in a home win over Getafe CF, Falcao scored just 10 minutes after coming on, while he also netted in a home victory over Cádiz CF and scored the only goal of the game as Rayo defeated FC Barcelona 1-0 on a famous Vallecas night.
Andoni Iraola’s 4-2-3-1
There is talent across this Rayo squad. Importantly, though, there is a good balance too and this is thanks to coach Andoni Iraola and his 4-2-3-1 system. Still only 39, Iraola is one of the hottest rising stars in the coaching world right now, thanks to the job he has done at Rayo by securing promotion and then leading the team to the top half of LaLiga Santander. The former Athletic Club captain has already defeated his former team on the road once this season and will take the Basque side on in Rayo’s next home game, looking to complete a double.
Momentum from last season
Another explanation for Rayo’s bright start to the season, especially at home, is the fact that they came into the 2021/22 season with momentum. Last year, the capital city side finished sixth in LaLiga SmartBank, but defeated CD Leganés and then Girona CF in the playoffs to win a surprise promotion. At the start of this season, they picked up where they left off.
The boisterous atmosphere
Despite a 2020/21 season that ultimately ended in promotion, Rayo didn’t have the benefit of their famous home support last term because the coronavirus pandemic kept matches behind closed doors. Now, though, the fans are back in the stands of Vallecas and they contribute a lot to the matchday atmosphere. The Estadio de Vallecas is a small stadium with only three stands, but those stands are tight to the pitch and make this a tough place for opposition teams to come to. That is one of the many reasons why no visiting side has managed to win there yet this season.
