Rayo Vallecano are making a surprise push for European football and they’re back in action in Madrid on Friday night. An improving Espanyol side provides the opposition in this La Liga match.
Selection issues have hampered Rayo over the past month or so, with what is not a particularly deep squad stretched to the limit. They’d gone five matches without a win before their 2-0 triumph in Vitoria against Alaves last time out.
Pathe Ciss and Pedro Diaz grabbed the goals in that game, with victory lifting them to seventh place. Their success has come despite extremely limited options up top, with no Rayo player having netted more than four league goals this term.
As for Espanyol, survival was always going to be the only real objective on their return to the top flight. Their situation was looking bleak around the turn of the year, but the January additions of Roberto Fernandez and Urko Gonzalez de Zarate have helped spark a resurgence.
They head into this game after a draw against Atletico Madrid and with only two defeats from 10 matches in La Liga in 2025.
How the bookies view it: More away misery upcoming for Espanyol
The bookies make Rayo the odds-on favourites at 4/5 to win this game. You can back the Draw at 13/5, while Espanyol are available at 9/2 to record what would be just their second road win of the season in La Liga.
Recent head-to-head: Hope for the visitors
The last two meetings between these clubs have both ended in 2-1 Espanyol victories. That may lift the spirits of the visiting fans heading into this match slightly.
However, Rayo’s overall record against this opposition has been pretty good in recent years. They’ve won five of the seven competitive encounters in the 2020s.
Players to watch: Puado to offer the main goal threat?
Given Rayo’s problems in the final third, Espanyol will be hoping that the presence of Javi Puado can make a difference. The 26-year-old has netted nine times in La Liga this term, more than twice as many goals as any other player who could feature in this match.
Predicted Lineups
Isi Palazon may return to the Rayo starting lineup for this match following his recent injury. Abdul Mumin is expected to miss out again, while Sergio Camello is a doubt.
The visitors are doing pretty well on the selection front currently, with midfielder Jose Gragera likely to be their only absentee here.
Rayo Vallecano: Batalla, Chavarria, A. Hernandez, Lejeune, Ratiu, Diaz, Ciss, Palazon, A. Garcia, Nteka, De Frutos
Espanyol: J. Garcia, Romero, Cabrera, Kumbulla, El Hilali, Lozano, Gonzalez de Zarate, Kral, Puado, R. Fernandez, Carreras
Anything else catch the eye?
86% of Rayo Vallecano’s league games this season have served up three or fewer goals, and you can back Rayo and under 3.5 total goals at 6/5 in this match.
Espanyol’s record of 10 defeats in 13 away league games this season is hard to ignore, and with the hosts recently boosted by the return of some key players, Inigo Perez’s men should have the better of this game.
They’ll be looking to top scorer Jorge de Frutos to offer much of their threat. All four of his goals this season have come in the second half, and he’s priced at 7/1 to score last here.
This La Liga match between Rayo Vallecano and Espanyol will be played on and kick off at 20:00. Check below for our tipsters best Rayo Vallecano vs Espanyol prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
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