Sevilla vs Rayo Vallecano Preview: Team News & Prediction
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It has been a disappointing last month or so for Sevilla this season as they sit in the bottom-half of La Liga. The Andalusians are set to take on fellow mid-table side Rayo Vallecano at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan this weekend.
Kick-off date/time: Sunday 24th November, 2024: UK – 3:15pm / US ET – 10:15am / US PT – 7:15am
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Sevilla vs Rayo Vallecano may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
Sevilla Preview: Sorry Sevilla
In each of the last two seasons, Sevilla have required three permanent managers to eventually steer themselves clear of the bottom three and the relegation places. However, former Las Palmas boss Garcia Pimienta is hoping to buck that trend but the Andalusians have been put together so poorly that they once again sit in the bottom-half of the table.
The giants of Spanish football, who have fallen, come into this one on the back of a slender 1-0 defeat to struggling Leganes in their most recent outing a couple of weeks ago before the November international break. That was their fourth successive loss in La Liga and they begin the match day sitting five points above the danger zone.
Rayo Vallecano Preview: Rayo of lightning
Current AFC Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has a clearly defined style of football and he implemented that well in charge of Rayo Vallecano a couple of years ago. After sacking Francisco last year, Andoni Iraola’s former assistant coach Inigo Perez has taken charge and begun to reinvigorate the Madrid-based club.
With a game-in-hand, Rayo Vallecano begin the weekend sitting just four points adrift of the top seven and the potential UEFA competition qualification spots. Rayo come into this one on the back of a 3-1 defeat at home to the much-improved and in-form Las Palmas a couple of weeks ago at Vallecas in the capital.
Sevilla Team News: Injury and suspension issues
Like their opponents, Sevilla have a suspension issue to deal with for this weekend as former Internazionale defensive midfielder Lucien Agoume is unavailable for this one.
They are also dealing with a few key injury concerns, too, as Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland is sidelined alongside former Chelsea midfielder Saul Niguez.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Alvaro Fernandez; Jose Angel Carmona, Marcao, Kike Salas, Adria Pedrosa; Sow, Pablo Ortiz, Lokonga; Lukebakio, Isaac Romero, Iheanacho
Unavailable: Nyland (Injured), Agoume (Suspended), Saul (Injured), Ejuke (Injured)
Questionable: Gudelj (Injured)
Rayo Vallecano Team News: Couple of suspensions
Rayo Vallecano have had a couple of key defensive injury issues this season but Pep Chavarria has returned to full fitness alongside fellow left-back Alfonso Espino.
They do still have a couple of suspension issues for this one such as defender Abdul Mumin and midfielder Unai Lopez with Diego Mendez still dealing with an ACL injury.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Alex Batalla; Ratiu, Aridane Hernandez, Lejeune, Pep Chavarria; Jorge de Frutos, Oscar Valentin, Gerard Gumbau, Alvaro Garcia; Isi Palazon, Sergio Camello
Unavailable: Mumin (Suspended), Unai Lopez (Suspended), Diego Mendez (Injured)
Questionable:
Sevilla vs Rayo Vallecano Prediction
Sevilla, as mentioned, are simply trying to steady and stabilise themselves to try and make sure they are no longer in a relegation battle deep into the campaign. They suffered three defeats in their previous four matches in La Liga. They now take on a Rayo Vallecano side that will play an impressive and intense style of football down south so it, as ever, could be quite an open affair with Rayo involved in which both teams scoring would appear a good bet.
Sevilla vs Rayo Vallecano Tip: Both teams to score