Rayo Vallecano vs AEK Athens

Rayo Vallecano put on a ruthless display at Estadio de Vallecas, dismantling AEK Athens 3-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League quarterfinal. The tone was set almost immediately when Ilias Akhomach pounced after just two minutes, finishing off a neat assist from Alvaro Garcia to stun the visitors early. Unai Lopez doubled the advantage right on the stroke of half-time (45+2'), giving the Madrid side a commanding cushion at the break. Isi Palazon then wrapped things up from the spot in the 74th minute after a penalty was awarded. AEK Athens grew increasingly frustrated, collecting three yellow cards — Barnabas Varga (61'), Filipe Relvas (71'), and Luka Jovic (88') — despite actually enjoying more possession and generating more shots. The result leaves Rayo Vallecano in a near-unassailable position ahead of the second leg, while AEK Athens will need something extraordinary to overturn this three-goal deficit.