Distribution of the spoils in a ‘hot’ rivalry

Cádiz are still unbeaten in Nuevo Mirandilla and this Wednesday they drew a point against struggling Cádiz after a very physical and intense contest, with plenty of electricity and fever but very few scoring chances in both places. In the goalless draw, Cádiz came out strong at home, while Rayo, who finished the match with ten thanks to the silly dismissal of Mumin, reaffirmed their good track record at home at the start of the season, having already scored it in three of its four exits. The great dynamics were rewarded with the sixth place in the table, while the Madrid team slipped into the European zone after the point scratched from the Andalusian lands.

Cádiz and Rayo had an electric start to the duel, with the local eleven more involved in the opening minutes. So, in the 6th minute, Maxi Gómez claimed a penalty for a challenge on goalkeeper Dimitrievski, but the referee turned a blind eye and warned the home forward. First controversy.

At the end of the first quarter, the contest was balanced and Rayo took the lead with a toned Pacho Espino, facing his old team. The Rayista full-back scored a goal (12′) with a good left foot shot, as did Roger Martí and again, Maxi Gómez before the break. A spate of fouls marred the final stretch before the break, with plenty of electricity, fouls and players on the ground. A ‘heat’ in a very physical rivalry that also caused the Rayo delegate to be ejected.

The situation changed slightly after the restart, giving continuity to the intense rivalry of the first 45 minutes and the carousel of yellow cards. Sparks flew but scoring opportunities were few and far between in both areas. Roger and Escalante had chances at the start of the second half, with Lejeune responding on Rayo’s behalf.

But the scoreboard didn’t move even as the two coaches moved the bench trying to oxygenate their teams, exhausted by the physical waste of a dog-eat-dog duel.

Cádiz and Rayo sold their defeats and despite the push, the crescendo tension contrasted with the lack of chances in both areas. Until Isi, one of Francisco’s alters in the second act, appears disturbing the local parish.

In the 81st minute, goalkeeper Ledesma avoided a Cádiz defeat with a superb hand to clear Isi’s howitzer, the best chance so far in the intense rivalry.

The rivalry is exciting and there is another eviction to come. With three minutes remaining, Rayo were left with ten players due to Mumin’s red card for the centre-back’s protest after first being cautioned for a challenge on Alcaraz. The rivalry for the team from the strip was complicated in the final stage against a Cádiz who, in superiority, scored the sixth, brought by an overturned Nuevo Mirandilla.

Sergi Guardiola got it for the yellow eleven, but his goal was again lacking. Already in stoppage time, Cádiz, mature, looked for a goal without success and the tie did not change, sharing the points after a fierce duel, very physical and with very few scoring opportunities. Fair distribution of the spoils between two of the ‘modest’ starters in the League of the best.