Vallecas pitch crisis: Will Rayo vs Atlético go ahead this weekend?
After the suspension of Rayo-Oviedo due to pitch problems, all eyes are on whether Vallecas will be ready for Sunday's Madrid derby against Atlético.
LaLiga officials and Rayo Vallecano staff face a race against time to get the Vallecas pitch ready for Sunday’s Madrid derby, with a decision expected by Thursday.
The state of Vallecas’ playing surface has become the talk of Spanish football after Saturday’s match between Rayo and Real Oviedo had to be suspended. Now everyone’s wondering if lightning will strike twice with Atlético Madrid due to visit this weekend.
Current pitch condition
Videos circulating on social media Tuesday showed groundstaff hard at work trying to salvage the situation:
- Protective covers have been placed over damaged areas
- A large industrial fan has been deployed
- Staff were seen testing the ball roll using equipment similar to what kids use at bowling alleys
From nearby balconies on Calle Teniente Muñoz Díaz, locals have been documenting the rescue operation in real-time, and it’s clear Rayo are pulling out all the stops to avoid a second embarrassing cancellation.
Decision timeline
While there’s been no official statement from Rayo, the word on the street is that Thursday will be D-Day. At that point, with 72 hours until kickoff (scheduled for 16:15 on Sunday), club officials will assess whether the turf has taken root sufficiently.
LaLiga remains optimistic the match will proceed as planned at Vallecas. Communication between the league and club is constant, with officials monitoring the pitch’s progress daily rather than waiting for Thursday’s “decisive meeting”.
Plan B options
If the pitch doesn’t recover in time, two options remain: postponement or relocation.
Interestingly, while LaLiga regulations don’t require Rayo to designate an alternative stadium, Spanish Federation rules do. Article 177 states clubs must notify authorities of alternative venues when registering for competitions.
The most logical backup would be Leganés’ Butarque stadium, which is available as Leganés play away in Córdoba on Saturday. The Metropolitano is technically free too, though having Rayo “host” Atlético at Atlético’s ground would be a proper dog’s dinner.
What went wrong with the pitch?
Rayo sources point to the San Silvestre race held at the stadium, claiming 5,000 people on the pitch that day started the deterioration. This allegedly led to a decision to replace the turf entirely to avoid disadvantaging the team.
According to the club, finding suitable turf proved difficult - none could be sourced in Spain, forcing them to look abroad. Installation wasn’t completed until February 5th, and Madrid’s heavy rainfall since then has prevented the new surface from properly settling.
With groundstaff, LaLiga pitch experts and an independent agricultural engineer all monitoring the situation, it’s now just a waiting game to see if Sunday’s fixture will go ahead as planned or become another victim of Vallecas’ turf troubles.