Rayo Vallecano vs Celta Vigo: Vallecas reopens its singing stand for LaLiga clash

Rayo Vallecano are back at home with their singing stand fully reopened after the closure ordered following the incidents that forced the match against Athletic Club to be suspended. Their opponents this weekend are Celta Vigo, a side who have not won a top-flight league game in Vallecas for more than three decades. For the Madrid club, the target is obvious: give their fans a first home league win of the season with the stadium back at full capacity.

• Rayo reopen the Vallecas singing stand, closed since the crowd trouble in the Athletic Club match
• Club officials met supporter groups to agree on the return of the atmosphere to the stand
• Pathé Ciss is suspended and Pedro Díaz could partner Unai López in midfield
• Celta Vigo are two months unbeaten and want to stay in the comfortable part of the table
• The Galician side have not won a league match in Vallecas for 33 and a half years

Vallecas reopens its singing stand and honors the fans who helped in Urda

Rayo Vallecano have worked in recent hours to bring normal activity back to their singing section. Club directors held a meeting with representatives of the supporter groups and reached a series of agreements that allow the space, closed for disciplinary reasons, to open again.

Some of the fans who played an active role in assisting those affected by the Urda railway tragedy will be placed in that area of the stadium. Their involvement happened during the team's return trip from Huelva, when they came across the trains involved in the accident and helped in the first hours of the emergency.

Rayo Vallecano possible lineup: Pedro Díaz in for the suspended Pathé Ciss

Beñat San José faces the match with Pathé Ciss suspended as his only confirmed absence. The Basque coach used a heavily rotated side in the Copa del Rey tie against Recreativo de Huelva, although he had to bring on his key players to settle the game in extra time and progress to the next round.

Pedro Díaz is the leading candidate to form the double pivot alongside Unai López. In attack, the manager has all his options available in good condition. The main doubt is at right-back, pending confirmation on whether Andrei Ratiu returns after a spell out. Alemao and Kumbulla, impressive in the last game, could also get minutes.

Celta Vigo chase their first league win in Vallecas in 33 and a half years

Celta Vigo have not won a Primera División game in Vallecas for 33 and a half years. Claudio Giráldez's side want to end that historic run and pick up three points that would keep them settled in the comfortable part of the table.

The Galician outfit arrive in strong form with a two-month unbeaten streak. Having not played in the Copa del Rey this week, their workload has been lighter and the coach is expected to make fewer changes than on other occasions. Several of the players who featured last Sunday against Real Betis will keep their places.

Lejeune against Marcos Alonso: a battle of experience in the two defenses

The game will measure two center-backs with extensive elite careers behind them. Florian Lejeune and Marcos Alonso are the leaders of their respective back lines and bring vast experience at the top level. Their performances will play a major role in the defensive setups designed by Beñat San José and Claudio Giráldez.

What is at stake for Rayo and Celta in this LaLiga fixture

Rayo need to make a statement on home soil. After their Copa del Rey effort, beating a direct rival in the mid-to-upper section of the table would give a significant boost to Beñat San José's project and reconnect the team with a crowd that is full again.

Celta, on the other hand, are defending an outstanding run. If they score points or win in a historically difficult ground, they would extend a streak that is allowing them to look upwards and move away from the lower zone with a calm they did not have earlier in the season.