Rayo Vallecano recovered from conceding after only two minutes to end a three-match losing run in La Liga with a 2-1 victory at Getafe on Sunday.
In their first game back after the winter break Rayo got off to a terrible start as Alvaro Vazquez fired home a 25-yard free-kick.
Jozabed levelled before the break, though, and Raul Baena converted from close range shortly after the hour mark to complete the turnaround.
Rayo endured a miserable end to the first half of their season with three straight league defeats, but opponents Getafe came into the match without a league success since October.
The hosts are also set to soon be without a coach, with Cosmin Contra poised to leave for Chinese club Guangzhou R&F, but they had their tails up almost immediately against Rayo.
Baena's foul on Pablo Sarabia earned them a free-kick and Vazquez took full advantage, sending his shot from left of centre into the near bottom corner.
Despite that setback, Rayo in fact had the better of the opening half-an-hour, on-loan striker Leo Baptistao twice heading over the bar when well-placed.
A deserved equaliser arrived in the 39th minute, Jozabed converting a low shot into the corner from inside the area.
Rayo pressed for a winner after the break and on-loan Chelsea winger Gael Kakuta struck a shot against a post.
Two minutes later, in the 64th minute, Baena was on target with a low shot from six yards to ensured Rayo started the new year with a win.
Spanish LALIGA Standings
POS | Team | GP | GD | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Real Madrid | 31 | +47 | 78 |
2 | Barcelona | 31 | +28 | 70 |
3 | Girona | 31 | +24 | 65 |
4 | Atlético Madrid | 31 | +23 | 61 |
5 | Athletic Club | 31 | +22 | 57 |
6 | Real Sociedad | 31 | +12 | 50 |
7 | Valencia | 31 | +2 | 47 |
8 | Real Betis | 31 | +1 | 45 |
9 | Villarreal | 31 | -5 | 39 |
10 | Getafe | 31 | -6 | 39 |
11 | Osasuna | 31 | -8 | 39 |
12 | Las Palmas | 31 | -6 | 37 |
13 | Sevilla | 31 | -5 | 34 |
14 | Alavés | 31 | -12 | 32 |
15 | Mallorca | 31 | -11 | 31 |
16 | Rayo Vallecano | 31 | -13 | 31 |
17 | Celta Vigo | 31 | -13 | 28 |
18 | Cádiz | 31 | -20 | 25 |
19 | Granada | 31 | -28 | 17 |
20 | Almería | 31 | -32 | 14 |
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