Evening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from the Spanish capital as Rayo Vallecano welcome Valencia on the first weekend of the new season. Rayo will be looking for another comfortable finish in Spain's top flight this term, but the battle for Valencia is to improve on last season's fourth-place finish, which was secured on the final weekend of the campaign.

Rayo were actually beaten 19 times in La Liga last season, but 15 wins and just four draws meant that they finished in 11th position on 49 points – some 14 points clear of the bottom three. Paco Jemez's side are also starting the new season on home soil for the fourth consecutive campaign; they are unbeaten in their last three openers, winning twice in the process.

As for Valencia, they have only lost one of their last 14 opening La Liga fixtures. What's more, Los Che have only lost one of their last 17 league matches – winning 10 times in the process. An impressive 2014-15 season saw Nuno's side finish fourth and indeed secure a spot in the playoff round of the Champions League. Their first leg occurred on Thursday evening and a 3-1 home victory against French side Monaco has placed them in a strong position ahead of the return match next week.

These two teams met on four occasions last season - twice in La Liga and twice in the Copa del Rey and Rayo failed to record a victory. In the league, Valencia were 3-0 winners at the Mestalla, but the points were shared in a 1-1 draw in this stadium. Under Paco Jemez, meanwhile, Rayo have won one, drawn one and lost one of their three home league meetings with Valencia.

Let me confirm the team news from the Spanish capital...

TEAMS

RAYO: Tono; Tito, Ze Castro, Llorente, Nacho; Baena, Trashorras; Ebert, Manucho, Bebe; Miku

VAL: Ryan; Cancelo, Mustafi, Vezo, Orban; Mina, Danilo, Fuego, De Paul, Piatti; Negredo

KICK OFF! Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the field for the first 45 minutes of action. Let's hope for an entertaining match as the away side get things underway in the capital...

A quick word on the team news - there are plenty of new faces on display for both teams. Diego Llorente, Patrick Ebert and Bebe are among those that start for the hosts, while Mathew Ryan, Danilo Barbosa and Santi Mina are in for Valencia. It should be an open and entertaining game tonight.

It has been a bright start from the home side here, with a deep throw from the right already causing problems inside the Valencia box. Ryan's first piece of work is to collect an effort from Bebe, who has started on the left of the Rayo attack tonight. The play is flowing from end-to-end early on.

Ryan is again called into action to deny Bebe as Rayo continue to make the early running on their own patch. We have not seen too much from Valencia as an attacking threat in the early exchanges here.

In case you have missed our La Liga action thus far - there have only been two goals in four matches thus far this weekend. I am hoping that changes in this match! The home side continue to pass and probe in the final third, with Bebe and Ebert both looking dangerous in wide positions tonight.

CHANCE! The first real chance of the match falls to Valencia as Rodrigo de Paul slides a super pass into Mina, who attempts to find the back of the net from a tight angle, but Tono is on hand to make the save. That was the first piece of genuine quality in the final third from either team tonight.

Valencia have the chance to threaten from a set piece just outside the Rayo box, but the delivery from Piatti is disappointing and Rayo manage to clear. Still goalless with 13 minutes on the clock here.

There is a notable absentee from the Valencia defence this season, with Nicolas Otamendi moving onto Manchester City last week. Rayo are having some joy in the centre at the moment as they continue to deliver high balls towards Manucho, but Ryan has only had a couple of routine saves to make.

The referee has been busier than he would have liked in the last few moments as both teams continue to make late challenges. It has been as open as expected in the opening 17 minutes of action.

CHANCE! Valencia come close to making the breakthrough as a cross from the right causes all sorts of problems inside the Rayo box - Negredo makes contact, but Tono somehow claws the ball away. It is an excellent piece of goalkeeping from the Spaniard, who looked in all sorts of bother.

Possession football from Rayo in the last couple of minutes as they continue to work the ball from left to right, but another cross towards Manucho is claimed by Ryan. Still goalless in the capital here.

Negredo's chance after 20 minutes is the closest that either side have come to breaking the deadlock here, but it has been an open and entertaining game between two teams that want to attack.

CHANCE! Another golden chance for Valencia - this time for Piatti, who meets a super cross from the right, but the Argentine can only poke his effort wide of the post from close range!

Half-chance for the home side this time as Trashorras finds space outside the Valencia box, but his effort was at a comfortable height for Ryan, who collected before releasing Cancelo on the right.

Manucho attempts to take matters into his own hands for the home side after breaking into the Valencia box, but there are no takers on his low cross and Vezo manages to spin and clear.

Not an awful lot to report in terms of chances in the last couple of moments, but Valencia continue to look the team more likely to make the breakthrough. Still we wait for the first goal of the match.

CHANCE! Valencia again come close to finding the back of the net as Piatti delivers a super near-post ball towards Negredo, but Nacho just manages to poke behind for a corner!

Still no bookings in this match, but we must be getting pretty close as the foul count continues to rise. Valencia are in control of developments in Madrid, but the score is still goalless this evening.

Piatti has been the star of the show for Valencia thus far, with the Argentine causing all sorts of problems in a wide area - again a cross is delivered towards Negredo, but Llorente is across.

BOOKING! Tito (Rayo) is booked for a late challenge on Fuego.

Valencia continue to force the issue as we approach the final moments of this first period, but Rayo are standing strong at the back, which is not a phase that is often attributed to Paco Jemez's side!

So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close, with the two teams level at 0-0. Valencia have looked the more likely to open the scoring, but Rayo have impressed at the back. I am not sure where all the La Liga goals have gone, but there is a real lack on the first weekend!

STATS! Rayo have shaded the possession with 54%, while they have hit the target with three of their five attempts. The same can also be said for Valencia, but the visitors have had the clearer opportunities in Madrid. Just the one yellow card to report tonight, with Tito in the book for the hosts.

BENCH WATCH! The home side have a number of attacking options on their bench this evening, with the likes of Lass, Farina, Quini and Jozabed all capable of making a difference. Valencia, meanwhile, also have plenty of options in the shape of Bakkali, Rodrigo, Alcacer and Perez.

RESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players rejoin us on the field for the second 45 minutes. Will we have a breakthrough at the Vallecas? The home side resume proceedings in Madrid...

... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too surprising. However, I suspect that alterations will occur if the score remains level for the next 15 or 20 minutes this evening.

It is good work from Bebe as the Rayo attacker drives past three defenders before racing into the Valencia box, but the Portuguese loses control at the vital moment, before fouling Vezo.

BOOKING! Manucho (Rayo) is booked for a late challenge on Fuego.

Not an awful lot to report in terms of chances in the early stages of the second period, but the better football is being played by Valencia. It would not be a surprise if we saw Rodrigo or Alcacer for the visitors in the next 10 minutes or so - Negredo has not been at his best thus far this evening.

I hope Barcelona and Real Madrid are saving some goals for tomorrow because the new La Liga season has been disappointing in terms of goals thus far! Just the two goals and we are in the fifth game.

BOOKING! Mustafi (Valencia) is booked for a late challenge on Miku.

Still no movement on either bench, but both managers will surely be considering changes at this stage of events. Not a lot is happening in either attack as we approach the final 30 minutes of action.

The referee has got a job on his hands to keep control of this game as the crowd continue to make their voices heard following a number of tasty challenges. Rayo are playing some nice football in the middle third, but are not really making their mark in attack as we move past the hour mark.

VALENCIA SUB: Bakkali is on for his league debut in place of Piatti.

You just get the feeling that one goal would be enough to claim all the points this evening, but neither side is really doing enough at this stage of proceedings. Still goalless in the Spanish capital.

Half-chance for Valencia as Danilo finds some space outside the Rayo box, but his effort was always rising over the crossbar. The home supporters are still in wonderful voice in this packed ground.

CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Rayo to take the lead as Bebe delivers a super cross into Manucho, who looks favourite to slide home, but somehow his effort is wide of the post!

RAYO SUB: Lass enters the field in place of Miku.

Valencia threaten on a couple of occasions after Bakkali has a shot blocked on the left, but Negredo cannot beat Tono to the ball and the hosts manage to clear. Still goalless in the capital here.

VALENCIA SUB: Barragan replaces Mina for the visitors.

The tempo of the game has dropped in the second period, which is not much of a surprise considering that this is the first weekend of the new season. A goal for either team now would be massive.

RAYO SUB: Farina replaces Bebe for the hosts.

VALENCIA SUB: Rodrigo enters the field in place of De Paul.

BOOKING! Nacho (Rayo) is booked for a late challenge on Rodrigo.

CHANCE! Wonderful chance for the home side as Lass drives down the right before delivering a cross into Farina, but the attacker just cannot make contact. What an opportunity for Rayo!

Valencia are just holding on a touch at the moment, with the home team looking the more likely to find the back of the net. Manucho is causing problems with his power, while Lass has added pace to the attack. Little under 15 minutes of football remaining and we are still goalless in the capital.

There are some tired legs out there at the moment, but the changes seemed to have helped Rayo, who are pinning Valencia to the edge of their own box here. Are we to have a late winner tonight?

Baring in mind how impressive Valencia were last season, this would be a better point for Rayo than it would be for the visitors. A high boot from Llorente presents Valencia with a free kick...

... Cancelo has a go, but his effort is high and wide. Very poor indeed.

I think it would be fair to assume that a goal at this stage of the match would be enough to claim all the points. Valencia are pushing numbers forward, but the same can be said for the hosts.

It is Rayo's turn to force a free kick in an advanced area, but in keeping with the theme of the match, Trashorras's delivery lacks quality and the danger is cleared. Still all square in the capital here.

Both teams are exchanging attacks as we approach the final minute, but neither goalkeeper is being tested. In truth, a point apiece is probably a fair reflection of the events in Madrid this evening.

The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional two minutes.

SAVE! What a chance! Valencia have a sensational opportunity to claim all the points late on as Rodrigo feeds Negredo inside the box, but the striker's effort is tipped wide by Tono - wow!

That was the chance for Valencia, but it was just a stunning stop from the Rayo goalkeeper.

So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with the two teams sharing the points in a goalless draw at the Vallecas. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action from the Spanish capital and be sure to join me again tomorrow for more La Liga football - until then!