Rayo Vallecano moves Espanyol fixture to Butarque stadium

RCD Espanyol's next La Liga fixture will take place at an unexpected venue. Rayo Vallecano has officially confirmed that the match between the two sides will be played at the Estadio Municipal Butarque in Leganés, instead of their usual Estadio de Vallecas.

The Madrid club's board expressed regret for the inconvenience and disruption caused to fans, attributing the move to force majeure circumstances beyond its control. In a statement, Rayo Vallecano said the decision was made to ensure the match goes ahead through coordinated effort between institutions. The club will provide full details on access procedures and seat relocation for season-ticket holders at Butarque in the coming hours.

Espanyol's Adaptation

The coaching staff and squad of RCD Espanyol are already aware of the venue change and will restructure all travel and logistical plans for the matchday. The team approaches this fixture on the back of a 0-2 away win against Osasuna last weekend, a result that leaves them eighth in La Liga with seven points. Striker Roberto Fernández, who scored a brace in that match, is the team's top scorer this season with five goals in five appearances.

With a recent form reading WDLLW from their last five games, Espanyol faces this atypical away trip aiming to pick up points. Their next scheduled fixture is a home match against 19th-placed Elche, so any points gained at Butarque would be valuable for maintaining their mid-table position in the standings. Fans can check the rest of the season's schedule on our fixtures page.

Rayo Vallecano, for its part, has stated its aim to claim all three points in a match it still considers a home game, despite the change of stadium. The final word will belong to the players on the Butarque pitch, where Espanyol will look to impose its style of play.