Pep Chavarría

Key strength: Pace and recovery

Overlapping full-back

In a season defined by survival desperation, Rayo Vallecano find themselves locked in a relegation battle, sitting 18th in La Liga with their top-flight status hanging by a thread. Through this turbulence, Pep Chavarría has emerged as one of the few constants—an ever-present force at left-back who has racked up 26 appearances and 2,120 minutes of crucial game time. The 27-year-old Spaniard brings an overlapping full-back style that offers Rayo a rare attacking outlet from the backline. His pace and recovery ability—his defining traits—allow him to bomb forward to deliver 3 assists while still recovering defensively, a balance that has proven essential in tight contests. With 1 goal to his name, Chavarría contributes more than your typical defender. Valued at €7.5 million, Chavarría represents significant worth for a club fighting at the bottom, testament to his reliability and modern full-back skillset. As Rayo Vallecano scrapes for every point in the survival dogfight, Chavarría's tireless runs down the flank and defensive resilience will be pivotal in determining whether they beat the drop.