With the World Cup break upon us, RCD Mallorca and Rayo Vallecano fans couldn’t be in a better mood. The two sides have been among the two most outstanding and surprising teams during this initial phase of the season.
They’ve been especially impressive in recent weeks. Looking just at the last month of competition, which covers the past six matchdays, RCD Mallorca and Rayo Vallecano would sit in the Champions League places alongside FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, having collected 10 and 12 points respectively. And they’ve done so against some mighty teams, no less.
RCD Mallorca have beaten Valencia CF, Villarreal CF, and Atlético de Madrid in their last four games. The islanders head into the break in mid-table, far from the relegation zone and looking upwards. The keys to Los Bermellones‘ success are essentially twofold. One has been the successful implementation of Javier Aguirre’s tactical model, with the construction of a solid team that is uncomfortable to play against and that has only conceded 13 goals (fewer than both Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid, for example).
Further up the pitch, the goalscoring efficiency of their star striker Vedat Muriqi has been key too. The Kosovo international, who signed on a permanent basis this summer from Lazio after a season-transforming loan spell last season, has scored in each of his last five LaLiga Santander games, the best run of any player in Europe’s five big leagues.
Rayo Vallecano, meanwhile, are close to the European places and will go into the World Cup break just two points short of a Champions League spot thanks to a sensational recent run of form. Rayo are unbeaten in their past six games and have cemented their reputation as one of LaLiga Santander’s giant killers; they’ve already faced all four of LaLiga’s Champions League representatives this season, taking points off each of them. An opening day draw against a highly-fancied FC Barcelona at Spotify Camp Nou and a creditable 1-1 at the Cívitas Metropolitano against Atleti were built upon by a 1-0 win away at Sevilla FC and a dramatic 3-2 win against reigning champions Real Madrid at the Estadio de Vallecas earlier this week – making them the only team who have been capable of beating the champions in league play so far this season.
Rayo coach Andoni Iraola’s squad contains many players who are already well versed in his tactical scheme, such as Santi Comesaña, Isi Palazón, goalscorer Álvaro García and rock-like centre-back Alejandro Catena. The team’s home form is also among the best out there: they’ve won four games and drawn two, losing just once, to Javier Aguirre’s RCD Mallorca. By making Vallecas a fortress and playing intense and attacking football, Rayo are once again producing a strong first half of the season, as they did last year too.
Both Iraola and Aguirre will look to maintain their sides’ form until the end of the campaign, bucking the experience of last season in which they left it late to secure survival. For now, though, both Rayo and RCD Mallorca are savouring the moment, which sees them among the most in-form teams in European football and capable of punching above their weight against the very best.
