It wasn't opened against Barcelona, Celta, nor Sevilla, and it won't be opened until the end of the season. The away sector at Estadio de Vallecas will remain closed in La Liga because of a fence and a bathroom. In the Conference League, team ultras will be allowed to enter without being separated from Rayo fans.

No tickets for visiting fans in La Liga

A fence separating fans and a bathroom with access only for supporters of the opposing team, both new La Liga requirements, are the only thing missing for the visitors' sector of Estadio de Vallecas to open. But as Onda Cero reports, it will not do so this season, at least in the home competition.

Rayo Vallecano management says its the Community of Madrid, which owns the stadium, which has the responsibility of getting the stand ready. But the Community says that the procedures will take between seven and eight months, and until the works are carried out, La Liga will not authorize the opening of the away sector.

Therefore, fans of teams visiting Vallecas until the end of the season will not be able to purchase tickets on their club's website. They will have to queue at the ticket office alongside Rayo fans, as was the case against Barcelona, Celta, and Sevilla, with no guarantee that their attempt will be successful. And they will be seated among the local fans. However, in the Conference League the system is different.

© MM Groundhopping | The Tribuna stand, where the away fans used to be seated.

The Terror Machine strikes fear in Vallecas

UEFA requires that 5% of stadium capacity be reserved for rival teams. In the case of Vallecas, this means that Rayo will have to accommodate up to 700 rival fans, with no physical separation between the two sets of supporters, only security personnel acting as a barrier.

The situation poses a security risk, as Lech Poznań will be arriving in Vallecas on November 6, and with them, their ultras. Of particular concern are the fans of the Terror Machine fan club, classified as a far-right group. It should be noted that the Bukaneros, Rayo’s ultras, are far left, so it is not strange to fear clashes before, during or after the match, even considering that the Bukaneros will be located, as usual, in the South End, and the visitors, on the second level of Tribuna Stand, near the famous stadium wall.

It is true that there was also some fear surrounding the arrival of 100 Shkendija ultras, and in the end nothing happened, but it is very likely that in the case of the Polish team, the ultra’s expedition will be much larger. Nor is that match any guarantee that the same thing will happen against Lech Poznań. And all it took was putting up a fence…

© KKSLECH.com | In Poland, ultra groups are more numerous, and their actions more spectacular than in Spain.