Athletic Club has once again experienced a match suspension, this time against Rayo Vallecano, which reinforces the peculiar history of canceled matches between both teams. On September 1, 2018, the First Division duel was postponed due to structural problems at the Vallecas stadium, and on September 16, the same venue was once again affected by a water and wind storm, forcing Athletic to miss its visit at home. This is not the first time that the Bilbao team has been forced to wait to face Rayo.
The history of cancellations between both teams goes back several years. In January 2021, during a league match in Madrid, Athletic was forced to stay home when the Barajas airport was closed due to Storm Filomena. On February 16, 2005, the Bilbao team had to travel to Vienna for a UEFA Champions League match, but snow and ice prevented the match from being played, which was rescheduled eight days later. In 2011, Athletic lost their visit to Trabzonspor in Türkiye when UEFA sanctioned Fenerbahçe, awarding the place to Athletic's rival and qualifying them for the Europa League.
The club has also suffered suspensions for different reasons. In 2012, the trip to Hapoel Kiryat in Israel was postponed after an attack in Tel Aviv shortly before the Bilbao flight. In the 2022-23 season, the match against Granada was suspended in the 19th minute after the death of a local member in the stands. And in March 2008, an altercation between Betis and Athletic interrupted the match when a bottle hit Armando.
These incidents have marked Athletic's trajectory in both national and international competitions, showing how external factors can alter the sports calendar. The club is now preparing for the upcoming clash with Rayo Vallecano, hoping that circumstances will allow the match to take place without further interruptions. The next round will be crucial for both teams, as both seek to consolidate their position in the table and advance in their respective competitions.