Rayo Vallecano vs Levante preview - Piti hits out at fixture schedule

Posted Thursday, December 20, 2012 by PA

Rayo Vallecano captain Piti believes his side have been handed a raw deal by the Primera Division fixture schedulers this season.

Rayo have been involved in four Monday night fixtures in La Liga already this campaign, while they faced Osasuna on a Friday night last month.

The Madrid-based club have also been denied a weekend outing in the upcoming round - the last of 2012 - as they are first up at 1900 local time against Levante tomorrow night.

"It annoys us to always be playing Friday and Sunday and having some times that none of the other teams get. It seems that Rayo, due to being the weakest, have to put up with these kick-off times," Piti told Marca.

"We want to play at Saturday at 2000 or on a Sunday at 1700. It's not fair."

Rayo's inconsistent scheduling mirrors their form this season, which has seen them draw only one of their 16 league matches, winning seven and losing eight. That has left them 10th in the standings on 22 points, five behind tomorrow's visitors Levante.

Sixth-placed Levante make the trip to the capital in good form with six wins and two draws from their past 10 league matches, with their only defeats coming against Barcelona and Real Madrid.

However, coach Juan Ignacio Martinez is well aware that things can turn around quickly and has warned his side not to let their guards down.

"Hopefully in 2013 we will continue in the same way, but we can't relax. We can never allow ourselves to become complacent. When the bad results come we have to be ready," he told reporters.

Looking ahead to tomorrow's game, Martinez added: "Vallecas is a difficult ground to go to. They're an adventurous team who are always looking to attack."