Beñat San José has made the message clear: Rayo Vallecano need to be themselves again. After a 5-2 defeat at FC Barcelona and one point from their first three league matches, the Rayo coach is looking for a response against Real Racing Club this Saturday at 18.30 hours in Leganés.
It is a significant early test in LaLiga EA Sports 2026-27. Rayo are not only trying to stop an unusually poor start, but also doing so away from Vallecas, with the suspension of the concession of the Estadio de Vallecas still in place. That means the Estadio Ontime Butarque will again stand in as the setting for a home fixture that does not quite feel like one.
San José’s position is straightforward. As he put it: “Tenemos que ser nosotros con nuestro estilo y nuestra identidad.”
That line matters because Rayo’s biggest issue has not simply been results. It has been whether they can recover the defensive solidity and collective identity that usually make them difficult to face, especially at home. After conceding five against Barcelona, the next step is less about chasing a perfect performance and more about restoring basic control.
Why Rayo need a response now
The league table tells its own story. Rayo have only one point from nine possible, which is their poorest return after three matches since 2015-16. For a club that has spent so much of its recent identity on energy, compactness and intensity, that is a notable dip.
There is some context, of course. Their only home defeat in 2026 came in January, and they had ten home matches in which they recorded five wins and five draws before that. But the current issue is bigger than home comfort. This is about whether the team can reset quickly enough to avoid a run that begins to feel bigger than the opening month of the season.
There is also a broader pressure point around history. If Rayo fail to win again, it would be the first time since 2009 that they start a season with four winless matches under a coach. That does not decide anything on its own, but it does sharpen the sense that this is a match San José will want to control early.
Racing arrive with belief
Real Racing Club come into the game with momentum of their own after beating Elche CF 3-2 last weekend. Their return to Primera División comes 14 years after they were last in the top flight, and that makes every point useful as they settle back in.
Racing’s recent record against Rayo adds another layer. They have not won in Primera División since January 2012, and that was also their last away win in the top flight. That is a long wait, but it does not change the immediate challenge for Rayo, who cannot assume the occasion will carry them if their structure is off.
For San José, this is exactly the sort of night that asks for clarity. Rayo do not need to overcomplicate the occasion. They need to defend with more authority, reconnect their lines, and show the identity their coach has already demanded.
The venue may be temporary, but the questions are real. Rayo need a result, Racing arrive with confidence, and this fourth jornada now feels like an early moment of truth for both clubs.
