The red-and-white team will meet its former player again in a match corresponding to the round of 32 of the eliminatory tournament.
Rayo Vallecano starts the year in Ferrol with the aim of advancing to the next round and reaching the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey, a competition in which they have great expectations and fond memories, especially of the Cape Verdean Tiago Manuel Dias Correia, ‘Babe ‘, now in the ranks of the Galician team, who reached the semifinals with the Madrid team three seasons ago.
The Vallecano team reaches the round of 32 after overcoming the two previous rounds of the cup against Villamuriel (0-5) and Unionistas de Salamanca (2-3), both teams that compete in lower categories.
Rayo aims to defeat Racing de Ferrol and keep their hopes alive in a tournament that they highly value, remembering that three seasons ago they were one step away from the final with Baby as a key player.
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Coach Iñigo Pérez faces numerous casualties, including midfielders Pedro Díaz and James Rodríguez due to a virus, as well as Joni Montiel, Álvaro García and defender Pelayo Fernández due to injuries, and striker Raúl de Tomás, who is unwell. In addition, Argentine goalkeeper Augusto Batalla has also withdrawn from training this week due to knee discomfort.
Consequently, the Navarrese coach will need to restructure his starting eleven, partly due to these absences and partly to continue with the rotation system that he has been using in the cup with fewer regular players such as goalkeeper Dani Cárdenas, Argentine midfielder Oscar Trejo or central defender Aridane Hernández.
In front of them is Racing de Ferrol, which, pressured by its precarious position in the league—five points below safety in LaLiga Hypermotion—arrives into the round of 32 with its mind focused on the crucial league match next season. week against Cartagena.
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Racing coach, Cristóbal Parralo, will not be able to sit on the bench after the Competition Committee imposed a four-match ban for headbutting his Zaragoza counterpart, David Navarro, in La Romareda. Former player Javier Manjarín will take charge of the Ferrol bench in his absence.
This cup clash will mark the reunion of Baby with Rayo, where he spent eight seasons and achieved two promotions to La Liga (2017-18 and 2020-21). The Cape Verde international switched from the red-and-white team to Racing last summer, where he has had several incidents with the club’s fans.
Signed to raise the quality of the team, his contributions so far have been minimal, with his only goal for Racing coming in the previous cup match against Barakaldo.
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With little margin for error in the league, the cup has taken a back seat for the Galician team. Their main goal is to stay in professional football, which requires an impressive second half of the season. Racing accumulated 18 points—three wins and nine draws—in the first half, only eight of which were secured in A Malata, where fans celebrated just one victory against Elche.
Pending the arrival of new reinforcements, Parralo, who was confirmed by the board at the end of December, will be without the four injured players: Erick Cabaco, Moi Delgado, Fran Manzanara and Brais Martínez.
Possible lineups:
Racing de Ferrol: Jesús Ruiz; Aitor Buñuel, Puric, Naldo, Moi Delgado; Álvaro Sanz, Señé, Aitor Gelardo, Nacho, Bebé; Álvaro Giménez.
Rayo Vallecano: Cárdenas; Balliu, Aridane, Mumin, Pacha Espino; Pathé Ciss, Gumbau; Isi, Trejo, Embarba; Camel.
