Rayo Vallecano vs Espanyol Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Rayo Vallecano are focused on other competitions as the Madrid-based outfit now welcome a mid-table Espanyol side to Vallecas on Thursday 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 / US – ESPN+
Rayo Vallecano preview: Focus on Europe
Rayo Vallecano come into this one on the back of succumbing to a 3-1 loss in the second-leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final last week, edging through to the final four with a 4-3 aggregate victory.
Rayo have been focused on European football for the last couple of months. They had already more or less secured survival in La Liga, albeit have taken their eye off the ball after a recent 3-0 loss to Real Mallorca in the Balearic Islands.
Espanyol preview: Mid-table Espanyol
After a bright start to the campaign, Manolo Gonzalez and his Espanyol side have majorly declined after a woeful 2026 whereby the Catalans are still winless in 14 matches in Spain’s top-flight.
The visitors’ most recent outing saw them hammered 4-1 by city rivals Barcelona at Camp Nou due to a Ferran Torres brace as well as late goals scored by Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford.
Rayo Vallecano team news: Couple of suspensions
Former Newcastle United centre-back Florian Lejeune, a key man for Rayo, is now missing through suspension alongside fellow defender Nobel Mendy.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Augusto Batalla; Ratiu, Balliu, Ciss, Alfonso Espino; Pablo Diaz, Oscar Valentin, Gerard Gumbau; Ilias Akhomach, Nteka, Isi Palazon
Unavailable: Lejeune (Suspended), Mendy (Suspended)
Questionable: Luiz Felipe (Injured), Fran Perez (Injured), Alvaro Garcia (Injured)
Espanyol team news: Urko Gonzalez suspended
Versatile midfielder Urko Gonzalez de Zarate is missing through suspension, while versatile attacker Javi Puado is absent due to a longer-term knee injury.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Riedel, Leandro Cabrera, Carlos Romero; Ngonge, Ramon Terrats, Pol Lozano, Dolan; Edu Exposito, Roberto Fernandez
Unavailable: Urko Gonzalez (Suspended), Javi Puado (Injured)
Questionable:
Rayo Vallecano vs Espanyol prediction
The intensity and aggression of Rayo Vallecano has led to a surprising season as they overperform in Europe as well as domestically with Inigo Perez capable of coaching to overcome off-field difficulties of their dodgy ownership. Espanyol are yet to win this year and will still be swarmed by Rayo, especially at Vallecas, and so both teams scoring may well be a good bet for this one in the Spanish capital.
Rayo Vallecano vs Espanyol tip: Both teams to score
