Rayo Vallecano vs Real Valladolid Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Rayo Vallecano begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting tucked inside the top six and the European spots in La Liga as they take on a struggling Real Valladolid side at Vallecas this week.
Kick-off date/time: Friday 7th February, 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
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 Real Valladolid may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
Rayo Vallecano Preview: Rayo on the push
Rayo Vallecano, coached by Andoni Iraola’s former assistant Inigo Perez, have rediscovered their intense and attacking style of football and they are also getting results along the way as they search for potential UEFA Europa League qualification this season.
The capital city club come into this one on the back of a 1-0 defeat of Leganes at Butarque in their most recent outing last weekend thanks to a late Pathe Ciss strike. Rayo have now enjoyed an eight-match unbeaten run of form in La Liga.
Real Valladolid Preview: Rock-bottom Valladolid
Real Valladolid, following their promotion to the top-flight last season, begin the 23rd match day of the 2024/25 La Liga campaign sitting at the bottom-of-the-table with just four victories in their 22 matches so far this season, despite a managerial switch in early December.
Paulo Pezzolano was replaced by former Mexico boss Diego Cocca with performances generally improving but the gap between themselves and safety has grown. They were battered by Villarreal by five goals to one at El Madrigal last weekend.
Rayo Vallecano Team News: Nteka suspension
Rayo have an abundance of attackers, such as Jorge de Frutos, Sergio Camello, Oscar Trejo and Isi Palazon, but Randy Nteka is missing through suspension for this weekend due to too many yellow cards, whilst Raul de Tomas is also still unavailable due to illness.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Augusto Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mumin, Pep Chavarria; Ciss, Unai Lopez; Jorge de Frutos, Isi Palazon, Alvaro Garcia; Sergi Guardiola
Unavailable: Nteka (Suspended), Raul de Tomas (Illness)
Questionable:
Real Valladolid Team News: Grillitsch a doubt
Austria international midfielder Florian Grillitsch joined Valladolid on the final day of the January transfer window but he is an injury doubt due to an ankle issue. They also have a couple of key absentees, too, such as Eray Comert and Raul Moro.
Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Hein; Lucas Perez, Jorge Sanchez, David Torres, Rosa; Juric; Anuar, Chuki, Amallah, Sylla; Marcos Andre
Unavailable: Comert (Injured), Raul Moro (Injured)
Questionable: Grillitsch (Injured)
Rayo Vallecano vs Real Valladolid Prediction
Rayo Vallecano attempt to swarm their opposition when playing at Vallecas. With the stands to tightly packed into the pitch and a hostile atmosphere created, Inigo Perez’ style and the personnel available to Rayo appears perfectly suited to an intense and aggressive manner of play. Real Valladolid had improved and they have suffered defeats to very strong sides of late but the pressure will already be growing on the aforementioned Diego Cocca, especially with Rayo the firm favourites for this one in the Spanish capital.
Rayo Vallecano vs Real Valladolid Tip: Rayo Vallecano to win
