Rayo Vallecano fall 2-1 after extra time at De Kuip in preseason loss to Feyenoord
Rayo Vallecano conceded a late extra-time winner as Feyenoord beat the Madrid side 2-1 in a pre-season friendly at De Kuip, with Álvaro García equalizing before Van Den Elshout struck in the 99th minute.
Rayo Vallecano’s second preseason test ends in extra-time defeat at De Kuip
Rayo Vallecano returned to the dressing room in Rotterdam having been edged out 2-1 after an agreed extra time period at Feyenoord Stadium. The match was staged as a hard workout for Beñat San José’s players and saw the visitors respond positively before conceding deep into the added period. Álvaro García’s fine finish, set up by Jorge De Frutos, briefly restored parity in the first half, but Van Den Elshout’s header in the 99th minute decided the contest.
Goals and decisive moments
Feyenoord took the lead midway through the first half when the young Van Persie capitalised on a slick move to finish inside the box. Rayo regrouped and gradually took control of possession as Unai López helped steady the midfield. In the 41st minute Jorge De Frutos threaded an incisive pass to Álvaro García, who beat the goalkeeper with a composed dribble and finish to make it 1-1 before half-time.
The match reopened after 90 minutes under the special agreement between the clubs to include extra time, and the decisive moment arrived nine minutes into that period. Kasanwirjo’s floated pass found Van Den Elshout, who drilled the ball along the ground under Miguel Morro to put Feyenoord back in front. A contentious moment late in extra time saw Rayo appeal for a penalty after contact involving Wessels in the area, but referee Jannick Van der Laan waved play on.
Lineups, debuts and squad notes
Beñat San José named a largely familiar starting eleven with Vetrouwd deployed on the left flank as one of the tactical adaptations. Sergio Camello and Alemao formed a two-pronged attack with De Frutos and Álvaro García operating on the wings and Óscar Valentín anchoring the midfield as captain. Nobel Mendy made his first official appearance for Rayo, marking a notable milestone in his integration into the squad.
Feyenoord’s starting XI included a mix of established prospects with Luciano Valente and Zechiël combining to create space, while Shaqueel Van Persie — son of the former Netherlands international — was heavily involved in the opening goal. Both sides used a long bench as substitutions and fitness work took priority over competitive continuity. Rayo arrived in the Netherlands for a week-long preparation and used the high-intensity friendly to test formations and minutes for fringe players.
Tactical takeaways and player performances
Rayo Vallecano showed a willingness to control possession once Unai López assumed the central role, and the team’s build-up play improved after conceding. Jorge De Frutos delivered important quality in transition and his assist for Álvaro García highlighted Rayo’s capacity to punish space on the counter. The double-forward shape offered momentum in advanced areas, but the side struggled at times to sustain pressure against Feyenoord’s vertical passing.
Feyenoord posed an early threat through direct runners and swift switches, with Valente and Van Persie exploiting half-spaces behind Rayo’s full-backs. The Dutch hosts created most clear openings in the first quarter of the match, and set-piece delivery combined with late runs yielded the extra-time winner. Both coaches used substitutions to refresh the pitch and test different defensive combinations, leaving tactical conclusions provisional in a preseason context.
Match conditions and impact on play
Weather and pitch conditions played a part in the encounter and influenced Rayo’s white shorts experiment — the visitors mixed last season’s away shirt with the home bottoms — as rain soon made the surface heavy. The elements contributed to a slower second half, and the frequency of changes hampered rhythm for both teams. The stadium also presented a unique atmosphere, with many empty seats limiting crowd noise and allowing coaches to communicate more openly on the touchline.
Physicality increased as the match wore on and extra time elevated the intensity, testing conditioning after a full week of training in the Netherlands for the visiting side. Goalkeeper rotations were notable; Miguel Morro replaced Batalla and faced several decent attempts, while defensive errors from both camps produced the clearest scoring opportunities. Overall, the conditions underlined the kind of sharpness required when competitive fixtures return.
Refereeing, controversies and injuries
Dutch referee Jannick Van der Laan officiated the match and faced scrutiny from the visiting camp after a penalty appeal in extra time was dismissed. Rayo players believed contact inside the area warranted a spot-kick, but the official signalled for play to continue, a decision that effectively preserved Feyenoord’s narrow advantage. No disciplinary flashpoints altered the match’s flow significantly, and the teams avoided major confrontations.
On the injury front, Rayo continue to manage concerns from earlier in pre-season; Luiz Felipe remains out with a reported problem, while Feyenoord listed a number of absentees through injury, including Leo Sauer and Jakub Moder. Both sides used the friendly to monitor player fitness ahead of the competitive campaign and to provide younger squad members with valuable minutes against strong opposition.
Preseason context and what the result means for Rayo Vallecano
This match represented Beñat San José’s second formal test with Rayo during pre-season and, despite the defeat, the coaching staff can extract positives from the performance. The team’s response after going behind and the quality of the equalizer suggested improving cohesion in attack. Integration of newcomers and the match minutes for debutant Nobel Mendy will be weighed alongside tactical adjustments and fitness markers obtained over the Dutch training period.
Preseason results are, by design, less about outcome and more about preparation; Rayo’s management will focus on recovery, analysis and targeted work ahead of domestic preparations. The extra time arrangement provided an extended window to examine squad depth and helped identify combinations to be considered for the start of competitive fixtures. The narrow loss offers information rather than alarm and will feed into the remaining schedule of warm-up matches.
Rayo Vallecano leave De Kuip with mixed impressions: encouraging attacking flashes and some defensive lapses that cost them late in extra time, but also valuable conditioning and minutes for players on the periphery. The camp in the Netherlands delivered competitive opposition, minutes for debutants, and tactical insights that Beñat San José will use to sharpen his squad before returning to league-focused preparation. The coaching staff now face the task of converting those positives into consistency ahead of the new season.
