High-flying Rayo began encouragingly in the Spanish capital, as visiting goalkeeper Fernando Martínez was forced to tip Isi Palazon’s dipping effort over the top of the bar in the early stages.
None of the last five head-to-heads between the two sides have produced more than two goals, but Andoni Iraola’s side looked hungry to change that, and thought they had broken the deadlock in the 22nd minute, only for referee Cesar Soto Grado to rule out Palazon’s close-range strike due to the Rayo winger straying marginally offside in the build-up.
Winless on home soil since their famous win over defending LaLiga champions Real Madrid at the beginning of November, the hosts struck first blood in front of goal as Rodrigo Ely inadvertently slotted an inswinging Rayo corner into his own net.
With the momentum now in their favour, the hosts should have doubled their advantage on the stroke of the hour-mark, but Andrws Martin fluffed his lines, and shot straight at a grateful Martínez with the goal at his mercy.
However, the Almeria number one was helpless to prevent the majority inside of the stadium from celebrating three minutes later. Second-half substitute Alvaro García exquisitely converted Palazon’s defence-splitting pass, less than a minute after coming off the bench to put daylight between the sides.
Content with their night's work, Rayo stayed in control for the remainder of the contest, without the need to create any further goalscoring opportunities.
While they pursue a first appearance in a UEFA-organised competition in over two decades, Almería remain in immediate danger of a return to the second division of Spanish football after failing again in their attempt to register a first league win on the road this term.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Isi Palazon (Rayo Vallecano)