Rayo Vallecano outplayed Athletic Club in the 13 minutes before suspension

The LaLiga match between Rayo Vallecano and Athletic Club was suspended after only 13 minutes of play at Vallecas, where home fans threw tennis balls and paper planes onto the pitch as part of a protest. Before the stoppage, one thing was clear: Rayo had been the better side and deserved to be ahead. Unai Simón produced two excellent saves to keep the Basque team level before the match was called off.

• Rayo Vallecano dominated the 13 minutes played and created constant danger through Pedrosa on the left wing.
• Unai Simón won a one-on-one against Camello in the 6th minute and stopped a driven shot from Jorge de Frutos in the 11th.
• Both goals disallowed for Rayo came from offside decisions.
• Athletic's first real sight of goal did not come until the 13th minute, just before the first stoppage caused by the crowd protest.
• The date for the remaining minutes of the match has yet to be confirmed.

Athletic's high press cannot stop Rayo's threat down the left

Despite the limited playing time, both teams showed clear tactical intentions. Athletic pressed high with Areso pushing forward and a back three of Yeray, Paredes and Yuri when in possession. That setup, however, did not prevent Rayo from finding space, especially on the left flank, where Pedrosa caused problems throughout and created the clearest chances of the opening stages.

Unai Simón keeps Athletic alive with two crucial saves

The goalkeeper from Murgia was the best visiting player during the 13 minutes of action. His first big intervention came in the 6th minute, when he won a one-on-one against Camello, a striker who has scored seven goals in LaLiga this season from just eleven shots on target. That move was ruled out for offside, but it served as a serious warning. Two minutes later, Rayo found the net again after a Yeray mistake in possession, although that goal was also disallowed for an offside position. In the 11th minute, Simón delivered again with a fine save to deny Jorge de Frutos from a tight angle.

Athletic's absentees and the uncertainty over the rescheduled minutes

Beñat San José's side had to face the match without three important players. Sancet and Nico Williams missed out through injury, while Laporte was unavailable due to illness. When the match resumes at Vallecas, Athletic could welcome back the first two, which may prove significant for the minutes still to be played.

Fan protest at Vallecas halts the match

The match was suspended after Rayo fans threw tennis balls and paper planes onto the pitch in protest. The first stoppage came in the 13th minute, right after an Athletic corner that had produced the visitors' first attacking moment of the game. Play resumed in the 25th minute, but only a few seconds passed before the crowd repeated their protest and forced the referee to abandon the match for good. The date for the remaining minutes is now the key question for both clubs.

Frequently asked questions about the Rayo Vallecano vs Athletic Club suspension