Alaves vs Rayo Vallecano Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Spanish Primera
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
THE FACTS
When is Alaves vs Rayo Vallecano on and what time does it start? Alaves vs Rayo Vallecano will take place on Sunday 10th March, 2024 – 13:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Alaves vs Rayo Vallecano? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Alaves vs Rayo Vallecano on in the UK? Alaves vs Rayo Vallecano will be televised live on LaLigaTV, but La Liga matches are also televised occasionally on Viaplay Sports and ITV
Where can I stream Alaves vs Rayo Vallecano in the UK? Alaves vs Rayo Vallecano can be streamed live on Viaplay, while ITV matches can be streamed live on ITVX
THE LOWDOWN
ALAVES
At the turn of the year, there were plenty of rumours and suggestions that Luis Garcia Plaza was about to be sacked in charge of Deportivo Alaves, despite the Basque club comfortably avoiding a relegation battle after gaining promotion to the top-flight last season. They immediately won three on the bounce but the manager is now back under pressure after a return to some poor form.
They come into this one on the back of a 1-0 loss to Osasuna at El Sadar in Pamplona last Monday with a 76th minute winning goal scored by Croatian international, Ante Budimir. That slender loss means they are now winless in their last five matches in La Liga after those aforementioned three successive victories.
RAYO VALLECANO
It was always expected to be a very tough campaign for Rayo Vallecano this season after the loss of several key players as well as their manager, Andoni Iraola, last summer but the Madrid-based club appeared to have steadied the ship with Francisco at the helm but he was replaced last month after a terrible run of form through autumn and winter.
His replacement, 33-year-old Inigo Perez, who was the assistant coach to Iraola, has begun with two draws and a loss in his opening three matches. A great draw against Real Madrid and forgivable loss to high-flying Girona was then followed by a really frustrating 1-1 draw against struggling Cadiz at Vallecas, last weekend, in horrible weather conditions.
THE TEAM NEWS
ALAVES
Alaves only have one absentee for this weekend with defender Aleksandar Sedlar unavailable for the Basque club due to suffering with an ACL injury.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Sivera; Gorosabel, Abqar, Marin, Lopez; Guevara, Benavidez, Guridi; Sola, Samu, Rioja
UNAVAILABLE: Sedlar (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
RAYO VALLECANO
Rayo Vallecano have a couple of absentees for this weekend’s clash against Alaves as Diego Mendez is out injured, whilst Pep Chavarria is unavailable due to suspension.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Dimitrievski; Balliu, Aridane, Lejeune, Espino; Valentin, Crespo; de Frutos, Lopez, Garcia; de Tomas
UNAVAILABLE: Chavarria (Suspended), Mendez (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
This one is a bit of a bizarre contest as the two teams sit in the bottom-half of the table, hovering fairly comfortably above the bottom three and the relegation places but both teams in the precarious situation of being in terrible form. Neither of these sides are very good and they have combined for just 48 goals this season. Only two teams have scored fewer than Alaves and one of those is indeed Rayo so under 2.5 goals would appear almost inevitable for this one.
TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
