Rayo Vallecano vs Real Oviedo Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Rayo Vallecano find themselves in a woeful position as they now welcome rock-bottom Real Oviedo to Vallecas in the capital city this weekend.
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: Fatigued Rayo
Rayo Vallecano qualified for the UEFA Europa Conference League last season and, predictably, their intense and energetic style of football has struggled to deal with both European and domestic commitments throughout this campaign as they now battle against relegation.
Inigo Perez' outfit come into this one on the back of a hard-fought but eventual fruitless performance last weekend as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu with Kylian Mbappe scoring a penalty deep into second-half stoppage-time.
Real Oviedo preview: Fighting Oviedo
Real Oviedo gained promotion to the top-flight last season and started steadily before a bizarre decision to sack Veljko Paunovic was followed by the abysmal appointment of returning manager Luis Carrion, and, inevitably, the Asturians have struggled badly throughout this season.
There has been an improvement of late, though, and that continued with a much-needed defeat of Girona last weekend, courtesy of an Ilyas Chaira winner. Oviedo remain destined for the drop but they are showing some signs of both fight and life down at the bottom.
Rayo Vallecano team news: Couple of suspensions
In their defeat to Real Madrid last weekend, both Pep Chavarria and Pathe Ciss were sent off for Rayo and so both are now missing from this weekend due to suspension.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Auguste Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mendy, Alfonso Espino; Pablo Diaz, Gerard Gumbau; Ilias Akhomach, Isi Palazon, Alvaro Garcia; Jorge de Frutos
Unavailable: Pep Chavarria (Suspended), Ciss (suspended)
Questionable: Unai Lopez (Injured)
Real Oviedo team news: A few issues
There are a few injury issues for Oviedo this weekend, particularly defensively, with both Eric Bailly and key left-back Rahim Alhassane potentially unavailable.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Aaron; Nacho Vidal, David Costas, Carmo, Javi Lopez; Sibo, Colombatto; Hassan, Alberto Reina, Ilyas Chaira; Fede Vinas
Unavailable: Alvaro Lemos (Injured), Ejaria (Injured)
Questionable: Bailly (Injured), Alhassane (Injured)
Rayo Vallecano vs Real Oviedo prediction
Oviedo are a resolute outfit and will seek to suffocate and defend against a Rayo side that are almost permanently on the front foot, but with far too much wastefulness in the final third. Another low-scoring encounter is to be expected at Vallecas in a game that Rayo supporters will be disappointed to accept has now turned into a real relegation six-pointer.
Rayo Vallecano vs Real Oviedo tip: Under 2.5 goals
