Rayo Vallecano takes early lead against Sevilla with goal from Alvaro Garcia

La Liga is back, and Álvaro García wasted no time reminding everyone why he’s become one of Spanish football’s most quietly effective wingers. The Rayo Vallecano talisman found the net early against Sevilla at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán to give his side the lead in the opening match of the 2026-27 season.

García continues to write Rayo history

García joined the Vallecas-based club back in 2018, and in the years since, he has racked up over 280 appearances in the famous red-and-white sash. García holds the distinction of being Rayo’s all-time leading scorer in La Liga, a record that speaks to both his consistency and the club’s faith in a player who has turned down bigger moves to stay loyal to the project.

What this match means for both sides

Rayo Vallecano finished eighth in La Liga last season, their strongest campaign in recent memory and a platform they are desperate to build upon.

For Sevilla, the Andalusian club has endured a stretch of inconsistency that has frustrated a passionate fanbase. Playing at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, conceding early at home to a side like Rayo is not the opening chapter Sevilla’s supporters were hoping to read.

Historically, matches between Sevilla and Rayo have been competitive, with Sevilla’s superior resources not always translating into dominance in this matchup. García’s early strike fit that pattern: a team built on collective effort catching a bigger opponent cold.

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