Two second-half penalties from Jon Guridi and Peque Fernández turned the game around after Rayo had taken an early lead, with the decisive spot-kick coming deep into stoppage time while Sevilla were down to ten men.
Early Setback
Rayo Vallecano made the perfect start. In the fourth minute, a defensive mix-up between debutant Arouna Sangante and goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos gifted possession to Álvaro García, who slotted into an empty net to put the visitors ahead.
Sevilla struggled to find fluency in the first half. A potential penalty for the hosts was overturned by VAR, and Rayo remained dangerous on the break as the sides went into the interval with the score 0-1.
Second-Half Response
The home side improved markedly after the restart. In the 52nd minute, Sevilla were awarded a penalty following a foul in the box. Jon Guridi, making his debut, stepped up and converted confidently to level the scores.
Sevilla continued to press, though clear chances remained limited. The contest took another twist in the 88th minute when Kike Salas was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge, leaving the hosts a man short for the closing stages.
Stoppage-Time Drama
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Sevilla kept pushing forward. Deep into added time, Florian Lejeune fouled substitute Robbie Ure inside the area, and after another VAR check, a second penalty was awarded.
Peque Fernández kept his composure and fired home in the 97th minute to spark wild celebrations inside the Sánchez-Pizjuán and secure all three points.
Opening-Day Relief
The result gives Sevilla an important early boost as they look to build momentum in the new season. Rayo Vallecano will feel aggrieved after leading for so long and finishing with a man advantage, only to leave empty-handed.
Sevilla’s ability to dig deep and capitalise on set-piece opportunities ultimately proved decisive on a dramatic opening night of the La Liga campaign.