Rayo Vallecano vs Elche Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Rayo Vallecano have a fun run in to experience this season as Inigo Perez' capital city outfit welcome relegation battling Elche to the Vallecas on Friday night.
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 any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Player / Disney+ / US – ESPN+
Rayo Vallecano preview: Impressive Rayo
April will see Rayo play in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa Conference League in search of silverware, while Inigo Perez' side also push themselves away from the bottom three and the relegation places in La Liga.
The hosts headed into the March international break on the back of a slender 1-0 defeat to defending champions and league leaders Barcelona at Camp Nou due to a 24th minute winner scored by Ronald Araujo.
Elche preview: Big win last time out
Following promotion, Elche were brilliant in the first-half of this season but have since majorly drifted as they sit just outside of the bottom three, albeit on the back of a much-needed victory.
A couple of weeks ago, the visitors managed to defeat fellow strugglers Real Mallorca by two goals to one with a come from behind win, courtesy of second-half goals from Rafa Mir and Tete Morente.
Rayo Vallecano team news: Ciss suspended
Senegal international defensive midfielder Pathe Ciss is missing through suspension for this one, while Ilias Akhomach is also a doubt, too, due to an ankle injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Augusto Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mumin, Pep Chavarria; Pablo Diaz, Oscar Valentin; Carlos Martin, Gerard Gumbau, Fran Perez; Isi Palazon
Unavailable: Ciss (Suspended)
Questionable: Akhomach (Injured)
Elche team news: Hector Fort working his way back
Hector Fort had been excellent for Elche and he is working his way back to full fitness, albeit he is dealing with a shoulder injury, and Andre Silva is also a doubt, too.
Predicted XI (3-4-1-2): Matias Dituro; Victor Chust, Affengruber, Pablo Bigas; Tete Morente, Aleix Febas, Marcos Aguado, German Valera; Diangana; Rafa Mir, Alvaro
Unavailable:
Questionable: Hector Fort (Injured), John (Injured), Silva (Injured), Rafa Mir (Personal reasons)
Rayo Vallecano vs Elche prediction
The intensity and aggression of Rayo's style of football means that them having a couple of weeks off due to international football should help them. Elche play some of the more entertaining football in Spain's top-flight and it could be quite a good watch for the neutral with both teams scoring seeming a good bet for this one on Friday night.
Rayo Vallecano vs Elche tip: Both teams to score
