Rayo Vallecano star acknowledges poor pitch conditions ahead of Barcelona clash – ‘It’s a swamp’ | OneFootball

As Barcelona gear up for their third consecutive away game at Vallecas, where they are expected to face Rayo Vallecano, there is much concern surrounding the pitch conditions.

Recent pictures and videos do not paint a good portrait of the Vallecas pitch, which looks wet and unsuitable for hosting such a high-level match.

In a recent interview, Rayo Vallecano striker Isi Palazon himself admitted that the pitch at Vallecas is indeed concerning, even comparing it to a swamp.

Isi Palazon on Rayo Vallecano pitch

“The pitch is a bit average. We’ve had problems at the training ground, and this last week we’ve had to train in the stadium, and it’s been noticeable,” Palazon said (h/t Mundo Deportivo) about the pitch at Vallecas.

The condition of the pitch is a real shame for Rayo Vallecano, especially considering the fact that the Spanish outfit have recently secured a place in the UEFA Conference League.

“When you only use the stadium for games and suddenly you’re using it seven days a week, it ends up getting a bit run-down,” Palazon said, explaining why the pitch may have started deteriorating.

Talking about the quality and feel of the pitch, the striker added, “It’s a bit bad, it’s a bit slow. It wasn’t grass, it was like the grass in my garden. It feels like a swamp, the grass is soft, and the ball doesn’t roll well.”

The Rayo Vallecano striker went on to lament the condition of the pitch and even acknowledged the concern from Barcelona players.

“We feel bad because football is a spectacle, and we want it to be a spectacle for the fans. We want to see good football, and I think we have the team to do that.

“In this case, it won’t be entirely good to watch, but that’s not our fault. I’ve seen some comments from Barça saying they were worried and so on. We’re worried too, we don’t want to get injured either,” Isi concluded.

With roughly 48 hours remaining before Rayo Vallecano host Barcelona, the club are facing a race against time to fix the pitch or at least make it suitable for 90 minutes of football.

Barcelona, for their part, have every right to be cautious as the club wouldn’t want to lose any of their star players to injury in this early part of the campaign.