Rayo Vallecano and Athletic Club played out a hard-fought 1-1 draw in La Liga, with the home side unable to hold onto their early lead.

Rayo took the lead in the 35th minute through a well-taken goal from Javi de Frutos, who scored with his left foot after a clever one-two pass. The goal stood after a VAR review, with Rayo outshooting Athletic 15 to 8 overall and registering 9 shots inside the box compared to just 4 for the visitors.

However, Athletic struck back just two minutes later when Iñaki Williams equalized, converting a cross from Álex Berenguer. The goal was against the run of play, with Rayo controlling 50% of possession and generating 1.44 expected goals compared to just 0.54 for Athletic.

Ultimately, Rayo's inability to capitalize on their dominance cost them the three points. Their high-pressing, direct attacking style was effective, but they lacked the clinical edge required to put the game to bed. Athletic, meanwhile, showed their resilience to grind out a point on the road despite struggling to create chances.