La Liga has scheduled Wednesday, November 4, for the resumption of the suspended match between Rayo Vallecano and Athletic Bilbao. The fixture, which was halted in the 13th minute last Saturday, will be completed behind closed doors at the Vallecas stadium, playing the remaining 77 minutes.
Athletic, tenth in the table with 8 points from six games, saw their visit to Madrid interrupted by a protest from the home supporters. Rayo fans threw paper airplanes and other objects onto the pitch, causing several stoppages. The referee, after consulting with police and the coaching staff, decided to suspend the match. The Madrid club confirmed on its social media that the decision was taken "on police recommendation".
Protests against the board
The tension in the stands was linked to protests by Rayo supporters, including the Bukaneros ultras, against president Raúl Martín Presa. The ultras issued a statement calling the management "disastrous" and stating that the local authorities' closure of the stadium was "the final straw". The team had played its three previous home matches in Leganés due to safety concerns at Vallecas.
Amid the chaos, the Athletic squad showed their appreciation to the nearly one thousand travelling fans. The players applauded their supporters as they left the pitch for the dressing rooms.
Potential boost for the resumption
The new date could bring positive news for Edin Terzić's side. The manager has explained that Nico Williams and Oihan Sancet, absent from the squad for Vallecas due to injury, "could already be recovered by then". The return of Aymeric Laporte, who missed out through illness, is also expected. The rules allow registered players who were available at the time of suspension to take part, except those who were substituted or sanctioned.
Before thinking about that pending match, Athletic must focus on their next league commitment. The team travels to Mestalla to face Valencia, who are bottom of the table, on October 17. A win there would be a significant boost ahead of the international break. The resumed match against Rayo is scheduled to start from the 13th minute with the score at 0-0.
The report in full is at radiopopular.com
