Rayo Vallecano host Valencia in a Monday night Spanish La Liga fixture, with both teams pushing for a place in the top half. The hosts are looking to maintain a solid home form as they face Los Che, who are poor on their travels.
It has been a difficult few weeks for Rayo Vallecano, who are winless in their last three matches in all competitions. Inigo Perez's team were held to a 0-0 draw at Real Oviedo last time out in La Liga before suffering a 2-1 defeat at Slovan Bratislava in a UEFA Conference League clash.
Having been on the road in those two fixtures, Rayo Vallecano are back home, where they are unbeaten in seven of their last eight matches across all competitions. They have claimed three wins in their last four fixtures in front of their fans.
Valencia’s recent form has been erratic, having claimed two wins from their last 10 matches across all competitions. The good news is that one of those wins came in their previous fixture, a 1-0 home victory over Levante.
Manager Carlos Corberan will look to use that result as a spark for some momentum. However, Valencia have struggled on their travels and are winless in six of their last seven away matches in all competitions, losing four times in this run.
How the bookies view it: Vallecano to win
The bookies have installed Rayo Vallecano as overwhelming favourites, with a home win priced at 19/20 by Betfred. A victory for Valencia is valued at 31/10 by bet365, who are also offering 12/5 for a draw.
Head to head: Valencia with the edge
Valencia have an 8-5 advantage, with nine draws in the last 22 matches against Rayo Vallecano. However, the visitors were unbeaten last season, earning a 1-0 away win in the first meeting before playing out a 1-1 home draw in the reverse fixture.
Players to watch: Eyes on de Frutos
Jorge de Frutos often features in attack for Rayo Vallecano and is their leading scorer with four La Liga goals. The forward will be the one to watch on Sunday (Jorge de Frutos anytime goalscorer – valued at 13/5 by Paddy Power).
Valencia can also hold their own going forward, with Hugo Duro also scoring four league goals this season. The forward could be worth keeping an eye on (Hugo Duro anytime goalscorer – priced at 3/1 on Ladbrokes).
Probable line-ups:
Pedro Diaz, Randy Nteka and Oscar Trejo are all nursing injuries and are likely to miss out for Rayo Vallecano. De Frutos is set to continue in attack, while Florian Lejeune should retain his place at the back.
Largie Ramazani remains sidelined for Rayo Vallecano, while Mouctar Diakhaby and Thierry Correia are also ruled out with injury. Duro is likely to earn a start after coming off the bench to score the winner last time out, while Cesar Tarrega is set to feature at the back.
Rayo Vallecano: Batalla, Ratiu, Lejeune, Vertrouwd, Pacha, Palazon, Ciss, Gumbau, Perez, Alemao, de Frutos.
Valencia: Agirrezabala, Folquier, Tarrega, Copete, Gaya, Lopez, Guerra, Pepelu, Danjuma, Almeida, Duro.
Anything else catch the eye?
Both teams have scored in three of the last four matches at the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas (BTTS YES – set at odds of 10/11 on bet365). Five of Valencia's last six matches have produced over 2.5 goals – valued at 11/10 by Betfred.
Rayo Vallecano scored in the first half in the two matches against Valencia last season (Rayo Vallecano first half over 0.5 goals – available at 10/11 with Ladbrokes).
Think both sides will find the net? Our BTTS Masterclass explains how to spot the fixtures where goals are a given.
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