Striker Piti believes playing Real Madrid in Vallecas allows Rayo Vallecano to approach the game with 'more intensity and desire.'
Rayo and Real meet at the Estadio Teresa Rivero this Sunday in what's sure to be a fiery Madrid derby.
Remarkably, Paco Jemez's minnows go into the game six positions and three points better off than their esteemed neighbours.
“It's always nice to play in stadiums like the Bernabeu, which are stages of the Champions League,” began Piti, full name Francisco Medina, in an interview with AS.
“But playing in Vallecas, with all of your people behind you, is special for the simple fact that you can approach the game with more intensity, more desire and more effort.”
“I think Real have not yet fully launched. As Sergio Ramos said, maybe they had a tough pre-season and are now paying for it. This is not the Real we will see in a few weeks time when they are more prepared and have their rhythm.”
The 31-year-old also discussed Rayo's controversial decision to charge season ticket holders extra for the game, and the differences between Jemez and his predecessor Ramon Sandoval.
“It seems that it is not a good time to do it, with the financial crisis. Hopefully people can pay the entrance fee, but it is very difficult to ask for more because they have already given enough.
“Jemez and Sandoval are totally different, each Coach is a story. Last year we had a very offensive game, it was quite beautiful. Paco's ideas are similar, we play to attack, and to keep the ball, and that is appreciated.”
