Baptistão: 'Facing Rayo Vallecano is a big challenge. We have to play a good match to win.'

Léo Baptistão sat with the media at the Power Horse Stadium press room on the eve of the first reverse fixture against Rayo Vallecano. The Brazilian highlighted the considerable difficulty of Monday's match: 'We've been working since the beginning of the week thinking about this game because we know that it'll be a big challenge to win in Vallecas. I know this pitch perfectly, where they attack a lot. We have to walk out onto the pitch 100% focused and with high intensity, we can't concede goals. We have to play a good match to be able to win, especially tactically.' 

The Rojiblanco second striker has admitted that Vallecas 'is a fort.' Rayo Vallecano have beaten Real Madrid CF and many other teams there. In fact, they sit top half of the table. Although we're thinking about playing our game and how we have to do things right. If all of us share the same idea of ​​football, we can beat Rayo Vallecano.' 

Regarding not having achieved the first away victory in this campaign, the 30-year-old commented that his team is on an upward path outside the Power Horse Stadium: 'It's clear that we have to improve on the trips. We've already shown an improvement in some matches by scoring points on difficult pitches where to win.' 

When it comes down to his past as a Rayista player, the UD Almería footballer recalled 'I owe everything to Rayo. They welcomed me when I was little, they've given me everything to feel well in Spain when I arrived from Brazil at a young age. In addition, they did everything possible so that I could debut as a pro player.' Baptistão has admitted that on his return to Vallecas more than three years later: 'If I scored I wouldn't celebrate it. I reckon I'd apologise. I've got a lot of respect for Rayo Vallecano.'