Rayo confident Atleti derby will go ahead at Vallecas despite pitch woes
After postponing their match against Oviedo due to poor pitch conditions, Rayo Vallecano expect to host Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby on February 15.
Rayo Vallecano remain optimistic that their upcoming Madrid derby against Atletico will proceed as scheduled at Estadio de Vallecas, following the embarrassing postponement of their weekend fixture.
Pitch problems plague Vallecas
The Vallecas pitch has been proper dog’s dinner recently, forcing officials to call off Rayo’s match against Real Oviedo due to the playing surface being in a right state. The club had completely relaid the pitch just two days before the Oviedo clash – talk about cutting it fine! Combined with Madrid’s heavy rainfall, the new turf hadn’t settled properly, leaving it too soft and unstable for a professional football match.
The decision to replace the entire playing surface came after:
- Weeks of complaints from Rayo players and coaching staff about pitch conditions
- Failed attempts to fix problem areas through more conservative treatments
- Particularly damaged sections in the penalty areas and along the touchlines
Derby day preparations
The Madrid derby against Atleti is scheduled for Sunday, February 15th at 16:15 local time, and club sources are confident the match will go ahead as planned. “No one has told us otherwise and by then the pitch will be in good condition,” club officials told Spanish news agency EFE. “There are many days ahead for it to reach optimal condition.”
The weather forecast is also providing some much-needed hope, with rainfall expected to decrease in the Spanish capital throughout the week, giving the pitch more time to settle properly.
Training schedule maintained
Iñigo Pérez’s squad will maintain their normal home match preparation routine, with training sessions from Tuesday to Friday taking place at the Ciudad Deportiva training ground. The final session before the derby will be held at Vallecas Stadium on Saturday – a clear sign the club expects the pitch to be ready for Sunday’s big match.
Rayo fans will be desperate for the derby to proceed without a hitch. After all, having to postpone one match is unfortunate, but two on the trot would be a proper embarrassment for the club. The Vallecano faithful will be hoping their pitch problems don’t turn into a right old barney with La Liga officials.