Rayo's start to campaign worse than 03-04 relegation season
The Madrid-based side's numbers this season are alarmingly smiliar to those of 2003-04, when the club slipped into Segunda División B.
Rayo Vallecano’s relegation last season was a huge blow to the modest club from Madrid, but the side’s results so far this season are more suggestive of another drop down the divisions than a Swift return to the top flight.
2003-04 precedent
Rayo’s results this season are worryingly similar to those the club recorded at the beginning of the 2003-04 season, when they descended from Segunda to Segunda B. At this stage of that campaign, Rayo had picked up 17 points by week 15 of the season with five wins, two draws and eight defeats. So far in 2016-17, the side have managed just four wins, with four draws and seven defeats, leaving Rayo in 18th position in the table, compared to 16th at the same stage in 2003-04, with one point fewer than the last time they were relegated to the third tier.
Managerial merry-go-round
Rayo changed their coach several times in 2003-04. Current Spain manager Julen Lopetegui lasted just 11 games and was succeeded by interim coach José Luis Martín, who then made way for the arrival of Jorge D’Alessandro. The Argentinean only made it as far as week 23 of the competition and was replaced by José Francisco Rojo, who could not halt Rayo’s slide as they finished the season in 21st, six points from safety.
Baraja installed
This season, José Ramón Sandoval was sacked in week 13 and replaced with former Atlético, Valencia and Spain midfielder Rubén Baraja, who has in two games overseen a draw (2-2 against Huesca) and a defeat (1-0 at Lugo).
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