Espanyol vs Rayo Vallecano Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Spanish Primera
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After a tough start to the campaign following their promotion back to the top-flight last season, Espanyol earned a good point at the Metropolitano against Atletico Madrid in midweek as they now take on a Rayo Vallecano side that were edged past by Barcelona.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 31st August, 2024 - UK – 6:00pm / US ET – 1:00pm / US PT – 10:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Espanyol vs Rayo Vallecano may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
ESPANYOL PREVIEW: DIFFICULT TO DEFEAT
It has been a generally difficult start to life back in La Liga. Starting off with the coach that got them promoted back to the top-flight, Luis Garcia, departing to be Tintin Marquez’ assistant with the Qatari national side, the Catalans then had to deal with back-to-back losses to start the season.
The first of those losses came against fellow newly-promoted side Real Valladolid at the Jose Zorrilla by a goal to nil before they then lost by the same scoreline at home to Real Sociedad last weekend. However, they showed some steel in midweek to earn a good point away from home at the Metropolitano against big spending Atletico Madrid with a goalless draw.
RAYO VALLECANO PREVIEW: BACK TO THE ELECTRIC RAYO
Andoni Iraola is known for his intense pressing style of football with both Rayo Vallecano and now AFC Bournemouth. His assistant at Rayo, Inigo Perez, couldn’t get a visa to join him in England so remained in Spain and then eventually became the manager that steered Rayo away from the drop last season.
Now, at 33, Inigo Perez is seeking to make a name for himself in the managerial game and there have been real signs of promise at the start of this season with a style of football similar to what went before. They began with a victory against Real Sociedad before a goalless draw against Getafe and then were very unfortunate to suffer a loss to Barcelona at Vallecas in midweek.
ESPANYOL TEAM NEWS: CAPTAIN LEANDRO CABRERA OUT
PREDICTED XI (5-3-2): Fernando Pacheco; Alvaro Tejero, El Hilali, Sergi Gomez, Fernando Calero, Carlos Romero; Pere Milla, Jorge Gragera, Pol Lozano; Javi Puado, Veliz
UNAVAILABLE: Leandro Cabrera (Injured), Edu Exposito (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
RAYO VALLECANO TEAM NEWS: INTENSITY COULD CAUSE ROTATION
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Dani Cardenas; Balliu, Lejeune, Mumin, Alfonso Espino; Jorge de Frutos, Unai Lopez, Oscar Valentin, Alvaro Garcia; Sergio Camello, Isi Palazon
UNAVAILABLE: Diego Mendez (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
ESPANYOL VS RAYO VALLECANO PREDICTION
This one is not expected to be an overly thrilling encounter for the neutral. Despite playing a progressive and proactive 4-3-3 system as B team coach, Manolo Gonzalez has shifted to a much more reactive and defensive shape and style at the RCDE Stadium this season. Rayo Vallecano are intense and look to exploit space but there is unlikely to be much space on offer for the likes of Jorge de Frutos and Isi Palazon so a low-scoring affair is to be expected.
ESPANYOL VS RAYO VALLECANO TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
