Almeria vs Rayo Vallecano Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Spanish Primera
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THE FACTS
When is Almeria vs Rayo Vallecano on and what time does it start? Almeria vs Rayo Vallecano will take place on Friday 11th August, 2023 – 18:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Almeria vs Rayo Vallecano? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Almeria vs Rayo Vallecano on in the UK? Almeria vs Rayo Vallecano will be televised live on LaLigaTV, but La Liga matches are also televised occasionally on Viaplay Sports and ITV
Where can I stream Almeria vs Rayo Vallecano in the UK? Almeria vs Rayo Vallecano can be streamed live on Viaplay, while ITV matches can be streamed live on ITVX
THE LOWDOWN
ALMERIA
Almeria gained promotion to La Liga in the 2021/22 campaign and managed to survive in their first season back in the top-flight last year. The Andalusians hadn’t been in Spain’s top division for eight years prior to returning so to avoid relegation, albeit ending up finishing 17th in the table and only escaping by a point, will be viewed as a success; especially as it was a very competitive division in which they actually collected a very respectable 41 points, which would have been enough to finish 15th the year before.
Over the summer, they have suffered a major blow in the transfer window, though. Star forward, El Bilal Toure, has joined Atalanta for a fee of around £26.5 million. Whilst that is a decent chunk of money, especially in Spain as pretty much the entire league gets to grips with financial issues, the loss of Toure is a major blow. They have managed to make Marseille forward, Luis Suarez, who was on loan last season, a permanent Almeria player, as well as recently adding Dion Lopy for around £7 million from Reims and Edgar Gonzalez has joined from Real Betis.
RAYO VALLECANO
Andoni Iraola is one of the most impressive young coaches in European football at the moment and he guided Rayo Vallecano to a surprise promotion, via the playoffs, in the summer of 2021. Then, despite off-field issues remaining due to a problematic ownership regularly protested against by supporters, Rayo finished firmly in mid-table in 2022, occasionally flirting with a run into the top seven and European qualification. Last season, once again playing an aggressive and attacking style of football, they finished eleventh, just four points off the UEFA Europa Conference League spots.
Such is the aforementioned disorganisation off the pitch, though, Rayo look like one of the favourites for relegation this time around. Iraola has departed for AFC Bournemouth whilst Fran Garcia has re-joined Real Madrid, Alejandro Catena has signed for Osasuna and Santi Comesana has left for Villarreal. The visitors have managed to keep in place some of their key players with Florian Lejeune signing on a permanent deal from Alaves and Alfonso Espino from Cadiz is a decent replacement for Garcia but they look a fair bit weaker than they did last season in what is expected to be yet another tight and competitive La Liga campaign.
THE TEAM NEWS
ALMERIA
Almeria’s boss Vicente Moreno, formerly of Real Mallorca and Espanyol, took charge this summer after leaving Saudi Pro League side Al Shabab and he has been known to prefer a 4-2-3-1 system.
The hosts’ key question will be how to replace the fire power and versatility of El Bilal Toure up-front but the likes of Largie Ramazani and Adri Embarba remain to provide a potency in attack. Samu Costa is for one match due to suspension whilst Leo Baptistao and Martin Svidersky provide a headache for Moreno due to injuries keeping them out of the opening day.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Pozo, Edgar, Babic, Akieme; Lopy, Robertone; Embarba, Melero, Ramazani; Suarez
UNAVAILABLE: Baptistao (Injury), Costa (Suspended), Svidersky (Injury)
QUESTIONABLE:
RAYO VALLECANO
Rayo Vallecano’s new boss, replacing the aforementioned impressive Iraola, is former Girona and Elche manager Francisco. Francisco is expected to continue the Iraola tradition of front foot and aggressive football with a preferred formation of a 4-4-2 with two deeper central midfielders, akin to the German-style 4-2-2-2.
Rayo have no reported injury concerns and no suspensions so Francisco will be able to select from his full squad as they travel to a team that are likely to be relegation rivals.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-2-2): Dimitrievski; Balliu, Hernandez, Lejeune, Espino; Palazon, Pozo, Ciss, Garcia; de Tomas, Trejo
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Last season, one of these sides scraped themselves away from relegation whereas the other team finished comfortably in mid-table and flirted with European qualification – but this opening day clash is unlikely to reflect that. Almeria will be concerned about the loss of El Bilal Toure but any side with Largie Ramazani on the wing will expect to at least survive in La Liga. Rayo Vallecano, on the other hand, are dealing with the loss of a few key players as well as their manager and a return to the second-tier would seem eminently possible this time around. Regardless of the match result, though, both sides could well struggle for cutting edge in attack and under 2.5 goals, therefore, seems quite likely.
TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
