The visitors started with urgency and nearly shocked the hosts inside the opening moments. Rafa Mir tested goalkeeper Augusto Batalla from the kick-off, but the Rayo shot-stopper reacted sharply to hold his effort. Mir remained a constant threat early on, forcing Batalla into multiple saves as Elche dominated the attacking exchanges.
Rayo responded through Alvaro Garcia, whose effort was comfortably collected by Matias Dituro, but the home side struggled to match Elche's early intensity. Mir continued to lead the line with purpose, registering three shots on target within the opening 20 minutes, yet Batalla stood firm to keep the scores level.
Despite Elche's pressure, Rayo should have taken the lead after 34 minutes. Played through by a precise pass, Garcia rushed his finish and sent his effort well over the bar in a moment that summed up a tense first half.
The game turned just before the break when Elche captain Pedro Bigas was sent off for a second yellow card following a high challenge. The dismissal forced manager Eder Sarabia into a reshuffle, sacrificing Mir at half-time to restore defensive balance.
Rayo began to assert control after the interval, with Pep Chavarria testing Dituro as the hosts increased the pressure. Their breakthrough finally arrived in the 74th minute.
Less than 10 minutes after coming on, Nteka attacked Garcia's dangerous delivery and guided a composed finish past Dituro to seal the win—his first goal for the club since January 2025.
After the match, Rayo manager Inigo Perez underlined the importance of the result. "The victory is a very important step towards ensuring our safety in the competition," he said.
He added that the three points were "essential" and stressed the need to build momentum, noting: "Winning transmits belief quickly to the next match. We have to take advantage of positive moments."
The result lifted Rayo seven points clear of danger and provided a timely boost ahead of their upcoming Europa Conference League quarterfinal fixture against AEK Athens.
For Elche, however, a sixth consecutive away defeat left them just two points above the bottom three, increasing the pressure as the relegation battle intensifies.
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