La Liga Table 2015 Week 9: Updated Standings Following Friday's Results
Rayo Vallecano broke their three-match losing streak with an emphatic 3-0 win over Espanyol on Friday, starting Week 9 of the 2015-16 La Liga season off with a bang.
Roberto Trashorras opened the score from the penalty spot in the first half, and a red card for Victor Sanchez Mata destroyed the visitors' resilience, who had to concede two more strikes from Javi Guerra. In the final minutes, Tito was sent off for a hand ball, but Burgui missed the resulting penalty.
The win sees Rayo put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone in the standings, as they move within two points of ninth-placed Espanyol.
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Here's a look at the schedule for Week 9, complete with updated results:
| Friday, Oct. 23 | Rayo Vallecano | 3-0 | Espanyol |
| Saturday, Oct. 24 | Celta Vigo | TBD | Real Madrid |
| Saturday, Oct. 24 | Granada | TBD | Real Betis |
| Saturday, Oct. 24 | Sevilla | TBD | Getafe |
| Saturday, Oct. 24 | Malaga | TBD | Deportivo |
| Sunday, Oct. 25 | Levante | TBD | Real Sociedad |
| Sunday, Oct. 25 | Las Palmas | TBD | Villarreal |
| Sunday, Oct. 25 | Barcelona | TBD | Eibar |
| Sunday, Oct. 25 | Atletico Madrid | TBD | Valencia |
| Monday, Oct. 26 | Athletic Club | TBD | Sporting Gijon |
The current La Liga standings:
| 1 | Real Madrid | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 2 | +16 | 18 |
| 2 | Celta Vigo | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 8 | +9 | 18 |
| 3 | Barcelona | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 11 | +6 | 18 |
| 4 | Atletico Madrid | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 4 | +8 | 16 |
| 5 | Villarreal | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 7 | +6 | 16 |
| 6 | Deportivo La Coruna | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 13 |
| 7 | Eibar | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 7 | +4 | 13 |
| 8 | Valencia | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 12 |
| 9 | Espanyol | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 20 | -10 | 12 |
| 10 | Real Betis | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 12 | -4 | 11 |
| 11 | Getafe | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 10 |
| 12 | Rayo Vallecano | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 17 | -6 | 10 |
| 13 | Sporting Gijon | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 9 |
| 14 | Sevilla | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 12 | -4 | 9 |
| 15 | Athletic Club | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 12 | -2 | 8 |
| 16 | Real Sociedad | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 | -3 | 6 |
| 17 | Malaga | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 6 |
| 18 | Levante | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 15 | -9 | 6 |
| 19 | Las Palmas | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 13 | -7 | 5 |
| 20 | Granada | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 16 | -8 | 5 |
Rayo entered Friday's match having lost three straight in La Liga and were desperate to change their fortunes, dominating early. Alvaro Gonzalez Soberon was forced into an early goal-line clearance, and the hosts' tendency to overload one flank gave the Catalan visitors some real trouble.
When they did break forward, Espanyol were dangerous. Vallecano's Tono had to be at his best to tip a powerful header onto the bar, a warning not to take the visitors lightly.
Rayo eventually broke the deadlock in controversial fashion, with Trashorras converting from the penalty spot after a foul on Guerra. While there definitely was contact, the forward seemed very eager to go down and certainly made the most of it.
AS English wasn't sure the spot-kick was the right decision:
Espanyol pushed for an equaliser but couldn't find any gaps in the Rayo defence, with the hosts abandoning their usual attacking vigor in favour of a more counter-attacking approach.
Rayo comfortably held onto their lead until half-time, and Espanyol looked even more toothless in attack after the break.
AS English highlighted one sequence in particular where a dreadful corner almost resulted in a counter-attack and Espanyol conceding:
To make matters worse, Sanchez Mata committed a very obvious shirt pull while already booked, reducing the visitors to 10 men.
Down a man, Espanyol crumbled under the pressure. Bebe was given acres of space to tee up Guerra, who doubled his tally minutes later by creating a bit of space and blasting home.
Per Phil Cadden of the Sun, he's been in superb form of late:
With a three-goal cushion in the bag, Rayo easily played out the final 10 minutes—although there was time left for some late drama. A shot on goal took a deflection and hit Tito on the hand, and despite the defender's best efforts to get out of the way, the official pointed to the spot and gave him his second yellow card of the match.
Burgui had the chance to salvage some honour for the visitors, but his tame penalty effort was stopped by Tono.
Week 9's marquee match will be the big clash between Celta Vigo and Real Madrid, currently tied for first place in the standings. Los Blancos are the favourites but enter the match with a few injury concerns, and given the Galicians' superb form, an upset could be brewing.
Real manager Rafa Benitez isn't underestimating the hosts, via the club's official website:
"Celta haven't been beaten yet and we're expecting an exciting match. We know it will be an extremely difficult game. They're a team that like to play high-intensity football and they'll be feeling confident. They're going to give it their all against us and will be spurred on even further because of where they are in the table. There'll be plenty of intensity and excitement and we'll have to match them in that regard.
"
Barcelona will host minnows Eibar, while Atletico Madrid face a tricky match against an inconsistent but wildly talented Valencia side.
