Rayo Vallecano secured a 2-1 victory over Espanyol in their La Liga encounter at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque in Leganés on Tuesday.
Rayo made a blistering start and took the lead after just three minutes through captain Álvaro García, who finished with his left foot.
The hosts doubled their advantage in the 26th minute when Adrià Pedrosa converted García’s assist to give Rayo a 2-0 lead at half-time.
The home side dominated the opening period, enjoying 67 per cent possession and registering 11 attempts compared with Espanyol’s five.
Rayo also created two major chances and struck the woodwork before the interval.
Espanyol responded strongly after the restart and reduced the deficit nine minutes into the second half.
Roberto Fernández finished a move involving Javier Hernández to make it 2-1 and give the visitors renewed hope of completing a comeback.
The visitors then took control for long periods, enjoying 61 per cent possession in the second half and recording 14 shots to Rayo’s five.
However, Rayo’s defence held firm despite the sustained pressure as Espanyol struggled to find an equaliser.
Rayo finished the match with 16 attempts to Espanyol’s 19, while the visitors had five shots on target compared with two for the hosts.
Rayo, however, remained more effective in key moments and preserved their advantage until the final whistle.
Espanyol’s hopes were further dented in stoppage time when Omar El Hilali was sent off for handball.
Rayo held on to claim all three points after surviving a determined second-half response from the visitors.
