Miku leads Rayo Vallecano closer to safety

Javi Guerra scores again

Rayo Vallecano knew that only a win would see them climb the table towards safety. As happened in their most recent home game, Rayo started well and carved out an early goal. Javi Guerra reacted quickest to pounce on a loose ball following Miku's long-range effort to fire the home side into an early lead.

Adrian's wonder goal

Both teams stuck to the script, with Rayo looking comfortable on the ball and Villarreal CF waiting for the right moment to counter-attack. The visitors slowly began to wrestle back control of the game. And Adrian fired home a sublime volley from inside the area to level the scores and bring his team back into the game.

Rayo's insistence

Fully aware that three points would be a huge step towards safety, Paco Jemez's men went on the attack in search of a goal that would tip the scales back in their favour. Rayo looked, through Bebe, Javi Guerra and Miku, to play themselves into space behind the opposition's defence. With the home side playing high up the pitch, Villarreal sat back and waited for a chance to counter-attack.

Shaking things up from the bench

Marcelino Garcia Toral looked to shake things up from the bench and brought on Cedric Bakambu. Paco Jemez looked on as injuries began to take their toll on his team. He lost his first-choice centre-back partnership of Jose Angel Crespo and Ze Castro in the space of just a few minutes and was forced to rebuild his defence with Antonio Amaya and Diego Llorente.

Miku's just reward

Tired legs began to take their toll towards the end of the game as the two teams struggled to carve out clear chances. However, some good link-up play saw Tito break down the left. His cross into the area was headed home by Venezuela international Miku to make it 2-1 and seal the points for Rayo.