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SportsBeñat San José's Rayo Vallecano Debut Ends in 2-1 Preseason Friendly Loss to Hearts
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Rayo Vallecano's new project under coach Beñat San José began with a 2-1 defeat to Heart of Midlothian (Hearts) in a preseason friendly at Tynecastle Stadium in Edinburgh. Hearts' striker Ba-Sy scored two powerful headers in the first half (18th and 34th minutes) to give the Scottish side a 2-0 lead. Rayo Vallecano, who made wholesale changes at halftime, pulled one back in the 60th minute through Camello, whose shot deflected off a defender into an unstoppable lob over goalkeeper Schwolow. However, Rayo could not find an equalizer. The match was the first test for Rayo after last season's Conference League final and the departure of coach Íñigo Pérez to Villarreal. Hearts had greater match fitness and created more chances, including a shot against the crossbar by Khamson-Kamara. The referee disallowed a potential 3-1 goal for Hearts due to offside. The result is seen as a matter of time for Rayo to build fitness before the season starts in a month.
Source report
Updated: 17/07/2026 - 23:30 CEST
The new project of Rayo Vallecano, under the leadership of Beñat San José, began this Friday with a 2-1 defeat, subdued by two headers from Ba-Sy. The greater match fitness and superior chances of Hearts, the Scottish runners-up, proved decisive in the first half.
Following last season's Conference League final and the departure of Íñigo Pérez to Villarreal, this match marks the start of a new era for the red-striped side. It was a first test, an initial run-out.
First Half: Hearts Dominate
The first chance fell to Rayo Vallecano, as a shot from Etienne Eto'o was repelled by goalkeeper Schwolow. However, the remainder of the first half belonged to Hearts. After the quarter-hour mark, following a couple of previous chances, they found the net against Dani Cárdenas. The cross came from McPake, the header from Ba-Sy — 1-0.
The lanky striker struck again with another powerful header from a cross on the right flank, unreachable for the Rayo goalkeeper — 2-0. Khamson-Kamara smashed another shot against the crossbar before the interval.
Second Half: Changes and a Response
Braga could have made it 3-0 at the start of the second half, with wholesale changes in the red-striped side.
The first eleven — Dani Cárdenas; Ivan Balliu, De las Sías, Pelayo, Jozhua; Becerra, Román, Pedro Díaz, Etienne Eto'o; Isi and Alemao — gave way to a second team consisting of Batalla; Andrei Ratiu, Lejeune, Lozano, Pep Chavarría; Óscar Valentín, Unai López; De Frutos, Camello, Fran Pérez; and Nteka.
An Unstoppable Lob
Camello responded with 2-1 on the hour mark: he controlled a ball on the edge of the area, shot with his left foot, and the final touch off a defender turned the shot into an unstoppable lob for Schwolow, who had the ball sail over him with no chance of reaching it, despite his immediate reaction.
The goal did not provide a boost for Rayo to equalize. They breathed a sigh of relief when the referee disallowed 3-1 for offside against their opponent. The Vallecas side need more running, more fitness, and more sharpness — a matter of time in this preseason. The start of the competition looms in a month. There is time.
Match Facts
Heart of Midlothian: Schwolow (Fulton, m. 62); Borchgrevink (Miller, m. 62), Kamson-Kamara (Fagan Walcott, m. 62), Findlay (McCart, m. 62), Kingsley (Kabore, m. 62); Kerjota, Mcentee (Mato, m. 46; Spittal, m. 77), Renaud (Guendouz, m. 46), McPake (Magnusson, m. 46); Braga (Altena, m. 62) and Ba-Sy (Dhanda, m. 46; Kyziridis, m. 77).
Rayo Vallecano: Cárdenas (Batalla, m. 46); Balliu (Ratiu, m. 46), De las Sías (Lejeune, m. 46), Pelayo (Lozano, m. 46), Jozhua (Pep Chavarría, m. 46); Becerra (De Frutos, m. 46), M. Román (Óscar Valentín, m. 46), Pedro Díaz (Unai López, m. 46), Eto'o (Fran Pérez, m. 46); Isi (Camello, m. 46); and Alemao (Nteka, m. 46).
Goals:
- 1-0, m. 18: Ba-Sy
- 2-0, m. 34: Ba-Sy
- 2-1, m. 60: Camello
Stadium: Friendly match played at Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh, in front of approximately 16,000 spectators.
Source: EFE
Source
LALIGA EA Sports // marcaWestern
Part of this Story
Rayo Vallecano Loses 2-1 to Hearts in Preseason Friendly Under New Coach