Rayo off to a flyer in LaLiga season opener
Rayo Vallecano stunned Girona 3-1 away from home as the new LaLiga season started with a bang at Estadi Montilivi.
The visitors were 3-0 up by half-time and Girona was reduced to 10 men by the same marker in what can only be described as a horror start for the hosts.
Jorge de Frutos got things started for Rayo on 18 minutes when he pounced on a diabolical error in Girona's defence as goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga failed to deal with a poor backpass, and two minutes later, the lead had been doubled by Alvaro Garcia Rivera.
Gazzaniga then saw red on 43 minutes after committing a foul on De Frutos as he chased down another backpass, leading to a penalty, but there was some controversy as the ball looked to have been out of play in the lead-up to the incident.
Nevertheless, the video assistant referee allowed the penalty to stand, and Isi Palazon duly converted to make it 3-0.
Joel Roca pulled one back for Girona on 57 minutes, but the game was too far out of reach for the hosts as they started the season poorly, which Rayo will be delighted to get a first win under the belts, not least away from home.
