Thursday’s Football Bet of the Day see’s me delve into La Liga and there’s a side at home that look good value to collect another three points at home against their struggling opponents.
RCD Espanyol vs Rayo Vallecano
🇪🇸 La Liga
⏰ Thursday 21st April, 18:00
Espanyol will look to keep up their strong home record, as they host poor-travellers Rayo Vallecano at the RCDE Stadium. The hosts are currently 12th, just three points behind 10th-placed Valencia, while the visitors are 15th, just four points above the relegation zone.
Espanyol suffered an agonising defeat last time out, as they lost 2-1 away to Atlético Madrid through a 90+10 minute Yannick Carrasco penalty. Vicente Moreno’s side come into this unbeaten in their last five at home, winning each of their last three without conceding a single goal. In fact, Espanyol have collected 31 of their 39 points at their Catalonia base, losing just three times with two of those defeats coming against Atlético Madrid (2nd) and Real Betis (5th). Since drawing 0-0 in their opening home match of the season against Villarreal, the Periquitos have found the back of the net in each of their next 15 fixtures at the RCDE Stadium, scoring 23 goals. Only Real Sociedad (13) and Villarreal (9) have kept more clean sheets at home this season than the eight Espanyol have kept.
After back to back draws at home to Valencia and away to Granada, Rayo lost 1-0 away to relegation-rivals Deportivo Alavés last time out to suck them closer to the relegation zone. Andoni Iraola’s side are now winless in each of their last 13 La Liga tussles, losing nine of them. Los Vallecanos have won just once on their travels this season and no side has collected fewer points away from home in the Spanish top-flight than Rayo, with the Madrid-based side earning just six points from a possible 45 (W1-D3-L11). Rayo are the only side in La Liga yet to keep a clean sheet on the road this season and they’ve conceded two or more in eight of their last 10. Rayo have also failed to score in 8/15 of their away fixtures, with no side scoring fewer than the 10 they have scored.
Bet of the Day
Espanyol come into this having won each of their last three at home, without conceding, and will be confident of securing another three points when hosting poor-travellers Rayo Vallecano. Vicente Moreno’s side have W9-D4-L3 at home this season with that record changing to W7-D0-L1 when hosting sides in the bottom half. Rayo are currently on a 13-match winless streak, as well as losing nine of their last 11 away from home, drawing the other two. No side has collected fewer points on their travels than the six Rayo have collected and given Espanyol tend to do their best work at home, I’m more than happy to back the hosts at an eye-catching price.
- RCD Espanyol to Win
- Pays 20/13 (SBK)
In December 2020 we sadly 
RCD Espanyol to Win ❌ (0-1)
Pays 20/13 ❌