The Rayo Vallecano aims to equalise the gesta of 2002 in front of the Barça

They have been nineteen occasions in which the FC Barcelona has visited to the Ray Vallecano in stadium of Vallecas -18 of League and one of Glass of Rey-, where has attained to conquer the triumph in ten opportunities, between them the last six clashes, and do not lose against the Madrilenian team from does almost 20 years. In 2002, the Ray achieved something that never in his history had attained, win twice in front of the Barça, and that until the moment has not gone back to achieve.

The first triumph of the Ray in this 2002 was on 20 January, by commitment of LaLiga corresponding to the twentieth first day (2-1). To the Ray directed it Gregorio Manzano and to the Barcelona, that explained between his rows with players of international size like the Argentinian Javier Saviola, the Brazilian Rivaldo or the Dutch Patrick Kluivert, Philip Cocu and Frank of Boer, trained it Carles Rexach.

In that memorable opportunity, the Madrilenian group that it was colista, advanced by means of the bosnio Elvir Bolic, Xavi Hernández empató the actions hardly when beginning the second half, but Ramón Of Quintana arrived in the minute 60 to give him the victory to the Ray. That fateful defeat aggravated the crisis of a Barcelona that arrived to Vallecas like chamber in the classification and that finish the day in the sixth position. By his part, to the Ray gave him wings and helped him to approach to the permanence.

The second fall of the Barça in that 2002 was on 7 December (1-0), the party corresponded to the thirteenth day of the new season. The Ray, with a so much annotated by Jorge Azkoitia to the 65 minutes, achieved the victory in front of the Barcelona directed by the Dutch Louis Go Gaal and that had the presence of the Argentinian Juan Román Riquelme like main signing with regard to the previous campaign.

Previous to the 2002, the Ray and Barcelona confronted in eleven opportunities in Vallecas by LaLiga, where the Catalan group hardly ever went of Madrid with the empty hands, as in four parties attained the triumph and in other six empató. The only time that fell defeated was on 30 April 1978, when the called Ray 'Matagigantes', in which militaban Félix Barderas 'Felines' and José González Of the Old 'Potele', won 2-1 to the Barcelona of Carles Rexach and the Dutch Johan Cruyff and Johan Neeskens.

From 2002, only they triumphed by possession

After that mythical year, and afterwards of the travesía of the Ray by Second and Second B, the Barcelona returned to Vallecas on 29 April 2012. In that commitment, the Barcelona group goleó (0-7) to the Madrilenian team directed by José Ramón Sandoval. Since, the Ray has received in other five occasions to the Catalans and in all lost, with an arrollador balance of nineteen goals against and only one in favour.

In spite of the defeat (0-4), is especially remembered by the institution and his followers the party of 21 September 2013 when, under the hand of Paco Jémez, snatched him the possession to the Barcelona with 51% to 49%. The last time that the Catalan club had lost the possession of the spherical until that then had been in front of the Real Madrid in Santiago Bernabéu in May of 2008, 315 parties before.

Only a precedent in Glass of Rey

The Ray and Barcelona only have confronted an alone time in the Glass of Rey, and went in the season 1980-81, the eliminatory of quarter-finals carried it to him the Catalan group. In the crash of gone the Barcelona picture won (0-3) in Vallecas, and in the turn also imposed (3-1) in the Camp Nou.

To almost thirty years after that 20 May 1981, this week the Ray and Barcelona will go back to measure in the Glass of the King in the eliminatory to only party by eighth of final. "It did not like me the draw. At the end, it was one of the worst teams that could touch us and what want to is to have more options to advance. Obviously, we will litigate it, being conscious that the main is the championship of League, but is clear that inside which could fall us was one of the most difficult", said Iraola when knowing the pairing.