Twin dismissals derail Oviedo's survival bid against Rayo's title push

À Éviter Score Futmetrix: 32/100. Two red cards—Ilyas Chaira's 53rd-minute foul and Pathé Ismaïl Ciss's 92nd-minute violence—transformed this six-pointer into a cautionary tale of indiscipline that buried both sides' attacking ambitions.

Intensity ignited, goals extinguished

From the opening whistle, intensity dominated the narrative. Rayo Vallecano arrived ravenous—61% possession, 11 shots—while Oviedo clung to defensive discipline like a drowning man to driftwood. Dani Calvo was monumental in the Oviedo backline, winning every aerial duel, every 50-50 ball. His outstanding performance kept the hosts alive despite relentless Madrid pressure.

The balance shattered in the 53rd minute when Ilyas Chaira received his marching orders for a reckless challenge. Down to 10 men, Oviedo was condemned to suffer. Aarón Escandell answered the call with three crucial saves, refusing to yield. With numerical disadvantage, every mistake was potentially fatal.

Unai López orchestrated Rayo's midfield with surgical precision, threading passes from deep. Yet profligacy was brutal: 11 shots, only 3 on target. Set-piece pressure (11 corners total) generated chaos, but Escandell and his backline held firm through sheer will.

In the 92nd minute, when a draw seemed inevitable, Pathé Ismaïl Ciss sealed his own misfortune with violent conduct. Straight red. Both teams finished with 10 men, both with appetites unsated. The scoreline remained 0-0—a result that favored neither, punished both.