Rayo Vallecano suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat at home to Turkish side Samsunspor in a UEFA Europa Conference League group stage match on March 20, 2026. The result was a significant upset for the Spanish La Liga side, who were unable to break down a resolute Samsunspor defense and were punished by a solitary goal. The match's decisive moment came in the 58th minute when Samsunspor capitalized on a defensive lapse, with their striker finishing calmly past the Rayo goalkeeper. Rayo Vallecano dominated possession and created several chances, including a first-half header that struck the crossbar, but their finishing lacked precision. Samsunspor's goalkeeper was in inspired form, making a series of crucial saves in the final twenty minutes to preserve the clean sheet and secure three vital away points. The result complicates Rayo Vallecano's path to the knockout stages, while providing a major boost to Samsunspor's qualification hopes in a competitive group. Post-match, the Rayo manager expressed frustration at his team's profligacy, stating, "We controlled the game but you have to take your chances at this level." The Samsunspor coach praised his team's discipline, saying, "This is a historic result for our club, earned through incredible heart and organization." The starting lineup for Rayo Vallecano featured their typical attacking setup, while Samsunspor opted for a compact 4-5-1 formation that ultimately proved successful.