James Rodriguez received a warning from his coach after his debut with Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga

The Colombian made his debut with the Rayo Vallecano shirt – credit @jamesrodriguez10/Instagram

Rayo Vallecano took an important victory against Osasuna, in a match highlighted by the debut of Colombian James Rodríguez. Coach Iñigo Pérez expressed his enthusiasm regarding the performance of the 33-year-old from Cucuta, who entered the field in the 86th minute of the match.

Rayo Vallecano managed to turn the score around with second-half goals from Abdul Mumin, Andrei Ratiu and Unai López, thus securing a triumphant comeback at home.

You can now follow us on Facebook and in our WhatsApp Channel.

Rayo Vallecano manager Iñigo Pérez said he can use James Rodríguez in three positions on the field – credit Rayo Vallecano

James Rodríguez’s debut captured much of the attention. Pérez commented in a press conference: “I’m delighted that he’s here. The welcome has been excellent, there’s a lot of excitement about him, but he’s just another player.”

James Rodríguez came into the game at a critical moment, and Pérez explained that his decision to use the Colombian alongside Sergi Guardiola was due to the need to keep the ball and cause damage to the opposition. “He has come from a fairly long period of inactivity and I make changes based on what I think. But he will surely start playing more regularly,” added the Navarrese coach.

During the first half, the team had difficulties, which was reflected in the adverse score before the break. “With the first goal, they have the game going as planned because they scored against us in something that they dominate and that is a bit of Osasuna’s DNA. We were not good in terms of what is needed to play in the First Division,” analysed Pérez about Rayo Vallecano’s initial performance.

The second half of the match showed a clear improvement in the team, which translated into the goals that gave them the victory. Pérez summed up the match saying: “Both are ours in the sense of seeking victory. In the second we tried to correct that and it worked out well for us.”

This result contributes to Rayo Vallecano’s aspirations of consolidating their position in the league, and the coach hinted that James Rodríguez could play a more active role in the near future.

The Colombian player made his debut with the Rayo Vallecano shirt against Osasuna – credit @DSports/X

Rayo Vallecano moved up to seventh place in La Liga after beating Osasuna 3-1 in an exciting match corresponding to the fifth round of the Spanish championship. Their next game will be on September 22 at home against Atlético de Madrid starting at 2:00 pm (Colombian time).

Íñigo Pérez’s team was looking to bounce back from their recent defeat at Espanyol, who won 2-1 the previous matchday with goals from Carlos Romero and Alejo Vélez, while Álvaro García scored for the Madrid team.

The visitors took the lead thanks to Raúl García, who scored a powerful shot in the 27th minute, breaking through the goal defended by Augusto Batalla.

The equaliser came in the second half when Abdul Mumin scored for Rayo Vallecano in the 50th minute, following a precise assist from teammate Gumbau. This goal was crucial for the home side, as it allowed them to level the game and keep their hopes of a comeback alive.

Rayo Vallecano took the lead again when Romanian player Andrei Ratiu scored in the 66th minute. Ratiu received a pass on the edge of the area from Pep Chavarria and finished with a precise shot that beat the defense of visiting goalkeeper Sergio Herrera.

Finally, Unai López put the cherry on the cake, closing the score with a goal in the final minutes of the match. López took advantage of a counterattack to unleash a powerful shot with his right foot, thus securing the victory for Rayo Vallecano.