MADRID, SPAIN — A spirited Rayo Vallecano side were denied all three points at Estadio de Vallecas as Athletic Club's Iñaki Williams struck just 47 seconds into the second half to cancel out Jorge de Frutos' VAR-assisted opener, leaving the two sides to share a 1-1 draw in LaLiga. Rayo created the better opportunities across the ninety minutes, peppering Unai Simón's goal with 15 shots to Athletic's eight, but the visitors' clinical edge at the crucial moment proved enough to escape with a point.
The opening goal arrived in the 35th minute and carried a measure of controversy before VAR confirmed its legitimacy. De Frutos latched onto a chance from the right side of the six-yard box and tucked a right-footed effort into the bottom right corner, sending the home faithful into raptures — though the celebrations were briefly suspended while the officials reviewed the play. When the decision was upheld, Vallecas erupted, and Rayo carried their slender advantage into the interval with growing confidence.
Athletic Club's response was immediate and devastating. Coach Ernesto Valverde had introduced Alex Berenguer at the break in place of Unai Gómez, and the substitute made his mark within two minutes of the restart. Berenguer rose to meet a delivery and nodded a headed pass into the path of Williams, who swept a composed right-footed finish from the right side of the box into the top left corner. It was a clinical, well-worked goal that silenced the home crowd and reset the contest entirely.
From that point, Rayo pushed hard to reclaim the lead. The home side's pressure was relentless, and Berenguer himself came close to putting Athletic ahead in the 66th minute, only for Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla to stand firm, saving the midfielder's right-footed drive from outside the box in the centre of the goal. Batalla's intervention was one of just two saves he was required to make all evening — a reflection of how thoroughly Rayo controlled the territorial battle. Dani Vivian was booked in the 71st minute for a foul on De Frutos, and Oihan Sancet had already received a yellow card in the 65th minute, contributing to Athletic's tally of three bookings on the night compared to Rayo's two.
The final stages were frantic. Rayo's triple substitution in the 61st minute — bringing on Óscar Valentín, Fran Pérez, and Unai López — injected fresh energy into the home side's attacking play. Pedro Díaz, introduced in the 69th minute, tested Simón with a well-struck effort into the top left corner in the 87th minute, and Valentín forced another save deep into added time. But Simón, who finished the evening with six saves to his name, was equal to everything Rayo could throw at him in a heroic display of goalkeeping.
The statistics told a clear story of Rayo's dominance without reward. The hosts registered 15 shots to Athletic's eight, with seven of those on target compared to just two from the visitors. Possession was shared almost equally — Athletic edging it 50.2% to 49.8% — but the shot count underlined how thoroughly Rayo pressed for a winner. Athletic's discipline in defence, despite committing 17 fouls to Rayo's eight, ultimately held firm when it mattered most.
For Rayo, sitting 14th in LaLiga with 27 points and a goal difference of minus nine, the dropped points will sting. They were the better side for long stretches and deserved more. Athletic Club, eighth on 35 points, will be satisfied to have weathered the storm and left Madrid with something to show for their resilience.
The stalemate sets up intriguing next chapters for both sides: Athletic Club travel to face Real Sociedad on March 4, while Rayo Vallecano host Sevilla on March 8 — a fixture that carries significant weight in their bid to pull clear of the relegation zone.