Rayo Vallecano and Elche ready for pre‑season friendlies

Spanish clubs Rayo Vallecano and Elche are gearing up for the upcoming league season with summer friendly matches. Rayo Vallecano will face Scottish side Heart of Midlothian (Hearts) in a pre‑season test, a game intended to fine‑tune tactics, assess squad depth and build momentum ahead of the 2026 campaign.

Elche will meet French Ligue 1 team Toulouse at the Pinatar Arena on Saturday at 10 a.m., marking the final preparatory fixture before the start of competitive play. The match will feature the debut of midfielder Javi Morcillo and offers both sides a chance to evaluate new players and strategies.

Both fixtures serve as opportunities for the clubs to experiment with line‑ups, give minutes to younger players and gauge readiness for the forthcoming season.