Atletico Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano Preview: Team News & Prediction
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This is a Madrid derby between two fan bases with very different ideologies as Atletico Madrid, now out of the title race, take on still European chasing Rayo Vallecano at the Metropolitano.
Kick-off date/time: Thursday 24th April, 2025: UK – 8:30pm / US ET – 3:30pm / US PT – 12:30pm
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Atletico Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
Atletico Madrid Preview: A disappointing end
Atletico Madrid have endured a miserable couple of months which began with UEFA Champions League elimination at the Round of 16 stage on penalties to Real Madrid before a Copa del Rey semi-final defeat to Barcelona.
Whilst heading out of the two cup competitions, Diego Simeone’s Los Rojiblancos have also managed just two victories in six La Liga matches to knock them out of the title race after they were beaten in last-gasp fashion by Las Palmas in the Canary Islands at the weekend.
Rayo Vallecano Preview: Rayo’s spring collapse
Under the management of Andoni Iraola’s former assistant coach Inigo Perez, Rayo Vallecano have been great to watch this season once again playing an intense style of football but whether it is that intensity or the fact they are safe, performances have dropped off in the spring.
With the drop off in their performance level, results have also been damaged as they slide away from the top eight and the probable European spots in La Liga. They most recently shared a 1-1 draw with in-form Valencia at Vallecas in the capital city at the weekend.
Atletico Madrid Team News: Fully fit
Probably quite frustratingly due to his meticulous, often unnecessary and now probably detrimental rotation policy this season, Diego Simeone heads into a fairly pointless La Liga run-in with a fully fit and available squad.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Marcos Llorente, Jose Maria Gimenez, Le Normand, Javi Galan; Giuliano Simeone, Pablo Barrios, Koke, Gallagher; Julian Alvarez, Sorloth
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Rayo Vallecano Team News: Still no Mumin
Rayo have no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues to deal with and may be able to welcome Sergio Camello back from a toe injury but they do remain without key defender Abdul Mumin due to a knee injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Auguste Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Ciss, Pep Chavarria; Oscar Valentin, Gerard Gumbau; Jorge de Frutos, Pablo Diaz, Alvaro Garcia; Nteka
Unavailable: Mumin (Injured)
Questionable: Sergio Camello (Injured)
Atletico Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano Prediction
Atletico Madrid have more or less collapsed in the last few months. Unusually when Atletico lose, it hasn’t necessarily been as a result of poor performances eventually bringing about poor results but a little bit of misfortune, especially in both of the cup competitions. They face a Rayo Vallecano side that, at their best, can smell blood and punish the vulnerability of their opposition so siding with the visitors may well be a good value bet for this derby game.
Atletico Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano Tip: Double chance – Rayo Vallecano to win or draw
