Rayo Vallecano vs Celta Vigo Preview: Team News & Prediction
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These are two sides that will be getting excited about their respective European campaigns to come as Rayo Vallecano welcome Celta Vigo to the capital city this week.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Rayo Vallecano vs Celta Vigo may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
Rayo Vallecano preview: Brilliant Rayo
Rayo Vallecano qualified for the UEFA Europa Conference League last season under the impressive management of the intense and energetic Inigo Perez, who had been the assistant coach to Andoni Iraola before his departure to AFC Bournemouth.
Rayo have started the season generally quite well, but they do come into this one on the back of a defeat, losing by two goals to nil at El Sadar against Osasuna in a game in which they very rarely take any points anyway.
Celta Vigo preview: Silky Celta
Coached by former B team manager Claudio Giraldez, Celta Vigo have turned themselves into one of the most entertaining teams to watch in La Liga, and they finished seventh, thus qualifying for the UEFA Europa League last season.
The Galicians have had a tricky start to the campaign and they remain winless with four draws and a defeat in their opening five matches. They shared a 1-1 draw with Girona last weekend courtesy of a late penalty.
Rayo Vallecano team news: Defensive issues
Abdul Mumin was already missing for Rayo due to an ACL injury, and he has now been joined on the sidelines by fellow defenders and new signings Luiz Felipe and Nobel Mendy.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Augusto Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Pablo Diaz, Pep Chavarria; Isi Palazon, Ciss, Unai Lopez, Alvaro Garcia; Jorge de Frutos, Alemao
Unavailable: Mumin (Injured), Luiz Felipe (Injured), Mendy (Injured)
Questionable:
Celta Vigo team news: Marcos Alonso a doubt
Marcos Alonso is a doubt for Celta Vigo this weekend as a result of limping off with a knee injury in that aforementioned 1-1 draw with Girona at Balaidos last weekend.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Radu; Javi Rodriguez, Carlos Dominguez, Manu Fernandez; Sergio Carreira, Hugo Sotelo, Ilaix Moriba, Oscar Mingueza; Iago Aspas, Ferran Jutgla, Pablo Duran
Unavailable:
Questionable: Marcos Alonso (Injured)
Rayo Vallecano vs Celta Vigo prediction
It is a bit of a case that these are two sides that need to get their points as early as possible before the league phases of the UEFA Europa Conference League and the UEFA Europa League kick in. They are also two teams that, in different ways, seek to play an attacking and enterprising, aggressive style of football. On the tight and rugged, fairly disgraceful pitch at Vallecas, it should lead to quite a chaotic watch.
Rayo Vallecano vs Celta Vigo tip: Over 2.5 goals
