Wed Dec 04 18:30:00 UTC 2024: ## James Rodríguez to Start for Rayo Vallecano in Copa del Rey
**Madrid, Spain** – After two consecutive games on the bench, Colombian star James Rodríguez will return to the starting lineup for Rayo Vallecano’s Copa del Rey second-round match against Unionistas de Salamanca on Wednesday. Rayo Vallecano coach Íñigo Pérez confirmed the news in a press conference, praising Rodríguez’s training performance while explaining his previous benchings as tactical decisions based on the opponents and overall team strategy.
Pérez stated that he is “delighted” with Rodríguez’s training but that managing a large squad requires tough choices. He hinted at a potential return to the starting XI in La Liga, contingent on Rodríguez maintaining his current form. This will be Rodríguez’s second start of the season; his first resulted in an MVP performance against Leganés.
Despite his limited playing time (136 minutes across 6 games), Rodríguez remains a key part of the coach’s plans. The match against the third-division Unionistas de Salamanca kicks off at 1:00 p.m. at the Municipal Reina Sofía stadium.
First Piper 