Alemao’s second-half header gave Rayo Vallecano a 1-0 victory over Strasbourg in their Conference League semi-final first leg at Estadio de Vallecas, placing the Spanish side in control of the tie before the return match in France.

Rayo Vallecano controlled long spells of the contest and did not allow Strasbourg a single shot on target, yet the hosts still faced a late scare when a possible penalty for a high boot on Andrew Omobamidele went to a VAR review, which ended with no spot-kick awarded.

The opening 45 minutes were tight, with neither side creating many clear chances, though Strasbourg’s best moment saw Ben Chilwell send a long-range attempt over the bar, while Alemao headed wide from close range and Emmanuel Emegha fired over from inside the box just before half-time.

After the break, Rayo Vallecano increased the tempo and pressed higher, with Isi Palazon testing Mike Penders from distance, the goalkeeper spilling the drive before Palazon then delivered a left-sided corner on 54 minutes that Alemao met with a looping header for the decisive goal.

Penders then produced another sharp intervention to deny Florian Lejeune’s powerful header, while Ilias Akhomach, Unai Lopez and Pathe Ciss all had efforts from range or half-chances inside the area, yet none of those attempts added to the narrow advantage.

This season marks Rayo Vallecano’s first appearance in the last four of a major European competition in club history, and the team have now won the first leg in all three Conference League knockout ties, although the second leg ended in defeat on both previous occasions, which is not a good omen.

The performance against Strasbourg backed up the scoreline, as Rayo Vallecano produced 24 shots worth 1.41 expected goals, while Strasbourg recorded 0.21 expected goals from five off-target efforts, and the Spanish side are also the only team in this season’s tournament with more than one player on at least three goals and three assists, thanks to Alvaro Garcia and Isi Palazon, who both sit on three goals and three assists.

Rayo Vallecano now travel to France holding a slim but valuable edge from the first leg, confident after limiting Strasbourg’s attack in Spain yet aware that previous second-leg defeats in this season’s competition show the tie remains finely balanced.