The improvement and cleaning works at Estadio de Vallecas are nearing completion, but it is not yet known whether Rayo will be able to play Conference League football at home. The competition schedule leaves the club two weeks to make the final improvements, but UEFA's verdict remains unknown.

A difficult situation in Vallecas

Dirt, cracks and humidity. The state of Estadio de Vallecas (and the reluctance of the fans to move to another venue) forced the Community of Madrid to invest €2M in renovating the 49-year-old stadium. Not to meet UEFA requirements, nor to generate more revenue, nor to make it more visually attractive, but only so that Rayo Vallecano could continue to play there.

The work began in April, and in May the first team sealed the qualification for the Conference League play-offs, causing Rayo a problem: the stadium did not meet UEFA's requirements. Then came another piece of news: it did not meet La Liga's requirements either. If the stadium doesn't undergo some renovations, it's possible that it won't make it to the league, said the club's president, Raúl Martín Presa. The club's president indicated that the renovation work would not be enough due to the many non-compliances of the venue.

Imágenes de las obras del estadio de Vallecas a través de la empresa que ha colocado los andamios. https://x.com/UnionRayoLive/status/1950543072250724551

— Union Rayo Live (@UnionRayoLive) May 9, 2025

Two weeks left before kick-off in Vallecas

At the end of July, workers began removing the scaffolding used to replace the roof of the stadium, suggesting that the work is nearing completion. However, the club has not announced any further work to correct the non-compliances and allow for UEFA and La Liga approval. Nor has any representative of these bodies commented on the issue.

In recent days the stadium has also undergone a cleaning of the façade, previously covered in numerous graffiti, something that was noticed by Unión Rayo. It is not known if this is part of the works financed by the Community, as this action was not on the list of works to be undertaken, but it seems unlikely that the club considered this step necessary, as the stadium has more serious problems.

According to Estadio Deportivo, the City Council and Rayo Vallecano have been in contact to resolve the issue. Even so, according to the media the deficiencies are significant: an insufficient lighting system, lack of space in the VIP boxes and the press area, as well as problems in access and evacuation routes. A little more than two weeks before the first home match in the play-off phase of the Conference League (August 28 against Neman Grodno or Klaksvik) and in La Liga (August 31 against Barcelona), it is not known whether the stadium will be able to host these games.

If, for reasons beyond Rayo Vallecano's control, any of these matches cannot be played at the Estadio de Vallecas, the Club will give a ticket to each season ticket holder with a location as similar as possible to their own, at the alternative ground chosen for the home game, the club warned its members. Butarque, Estadio Metropolitano and Coliseum are all options in case UEFA or La Liga do not grant a licence to the Vallecas ground.

© Miguelazo84 | In addition to the current works, the Community of Madrid promised to carry out a major renovation of the stadium, which should be completed by 2027.