MADRID — Rayo Vallecano, often overlooked in La Liga’s hierarchy, solidified their pursuit of a European spot with a narrow 1-0 victory over the last-placed Real Valladolid on Friday.

In the match, a missed defensive play by Valladolid allowed Álvaro Garcia to seize a cross from the right side, leading to a decisive goal in the 71st minute as he drove the ball through the legs of the goalkeeper.

This victory extended Rayo’s impressive unbeaten streak in the league to a club-record nine matches. As a result, they climbed to sixth place on the league table, pulling four points clear of Girona, which is set to compete against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

With the top six positions guaranteed European football for the following season, Rayo’s winger Isi expressed optimism about their prospects moving forward. “We need to maintain a realistic outlook; we have 35 points, and there’s room for dreaming,” Isi commented. “Our dedication and hard work have brought us to this point, and I firmly believe we can achieve our goals. It’s all about adopting an ambitious mindset.”