Rayo Vallecano vs Atletico Madrid Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Spanish Primera
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THE FACTS
When is Rayo Vallecano vs Atletico Madrid on and what time does it start? Rayo Vallecano vs Atletico Madrid will take place on Monday 28th August, 2023 – 20:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Rayo Vallecano vs Atletico Madrid? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Rayo Vallecano vs Atletico Madrid on in the UK? Rayo Vallecano vs Atletico Madrid will be televised live on LaLigaTV, but La Liga matches are also televised occasionally on Viaplay Sports and ITV
Where can I stream Rayo Vallecano vs Atletico Madrid in the UK? Rayo Vallecano vs Atletico Madrid can be streamed live on Viaplay, while ITV matches can be streamed live on ITVX
THE LOWDOWN
RAYO VALLECANO
Over the summer, Rayo Vallecano were expected to be among the teams that struggle the most in La Liga this season with several key players, such as Santi Comesana, Alejandro Catena and Fran Garcia departing, as well as arguably more importantly their coach Andoni Iraola, who has performed the miracle of gaining promotion with this incarnation of Rayo and then keeping them comfortably in mid-table, leaving for Premier League side AFC Bournemouth.
Despite that, though, quite remarkably, the Madrid-based club have begun this season with back-to-back 2-0 victories away from home, under the new management of Francisco. They started with a 2-0 win in Andalusia against Almeria and then followed that up with a comfortable and very impressive 2-0 win over newly-promoted Granada last weekend.
ATLETICO MADRID
Following the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Atletico Madrid produced some impressive form, playing a much-improved and easier to watch style of football, that has since led to Diego Simeone deciding to stay on as their manager as they seek to overthrow both Barcelona and Real Madrid for a third time in his tenure as Los Rojiblancos boss.
That much-improved and easier to watch style of football was not put into action in their goalless draw with Real Betis, though, as they shared a goalless draw in Andalusia last weekend – with, remarkably, just one shot on target throughout then entirety of the match. They did begin with a 3-1 win over Granada on the opening day of the season so do sit relatively pretty on four points.
THE TEAM NEWS
RAYO VALLECANO
It has been a magnificent start to the season for Spain’s most disorganised club and they will expect to name an unchanged eleven for their first game of the season at Vallecas.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Dimitrievski; Balliu, Aridane, Lejeune, Espino; Palazon, Lopez, Valentin, Garcia; Nteka, Trejo
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Pozo (Injured), Martin (Injured)
ATLETICO MADRID
Atrletico Madrid have a few issues with two key defenders, Reinildo and Jose Maria Gimenez, out injured, as well as forward Angel Correa and captain Koke. Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco is a doubt but should be able to start.
PREDICTED XI (X-X-X-X): Oblak; Azpilicueta, Savic, Hermoso; Llorente, Witsel, De Paul, Lemar, Ferreira-Carrasco; Griezmann, Morata
UNAVAILABLE: Correa (Injured), Koke (Injured), Gimenez (Injured), Vitolo (Injured), Reinildo (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Ferreira-Carrasco (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
Rayo Vallecano, under Andoni Iraola, played a front foot and aggressive style of football that has been continued with Francisco and the additions of Jorge De Frutos and Sergio Camello only add to the fun. However, due to a lack of genuine real quality, they have always remained relatively low-scoring. They now face an Atletico Madrid side that are renowned for their defensive play and their away game against Betis was a very good example of that. So, regardless of who comes out on top, we are set for a low-scoring encounter.
TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
