Rayo Vallecano vs Osasuna Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Spanish Primera
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Prior to the season starting, both of these sides would have expected to be involved in a relegation battle and avoiding the drop would be a success but both Rayo Vallecano and Osasuna have started the season steadily.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Monday 16th September, 2024 - 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 Osasuna may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
RAYO VALLECANO PREVIEW: RAYO’S INTENSITY IS BACK
Andoni Iraola coached Rayo Vallecano to promotion a couple of seasons ago with an intense and entertaining style of football that was lost for most of last season. However, his former assistant, Inigo Perez, has taken charge and Rayo have put in some performances to suggest they have rediscovered that style of football.
They began the campaign with a surprise victory over Real Sociedad by two goals to one before a goalless draw with Getafe. They then took the lead and played very well against Barcelona before succumbing to defeat. Their pre-international break clash saw quite an underwhelming performance and result, though, losing 2-1 to newly-promoted Espanyol.
OSASUNA PREVIEW: UNCONVINCING OSASUNA
Following the departure of Jago Arrasate, who led them to seventh and UEFA Europa Conference League qualification as well as the final of the Copa del Rey final in the 2022/23 season, to Real Mallorca; Osasuna appointed Vicente Moreno, who badly struggled with Almeria at the start of last season.
The Pamlona-based club were outplayed on the opening day but salvaged a 1-1 draw against newly-promoted Leganes before managing to squeeze out wins against the run of play once again against Real Mallorca and Celta Vigo at El Sadar either side of an annihilation at the hands of Girona in Catalonia.
RAYO VALLECANO TEAM NEWS: INJURY ISSUES
Inigo Perez has reverted back to the attacking talent of the likes of Jorge de Frutos and Isi Palazon as part of a narrow and always intense front four.
Rayo do have a couple of defensive injury issues to deal with for this one as goalkeeper Dani Cardenas is unavailable alongside left-back Alfonso Espino.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Alex Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mumin, Pep Chavarria; Jorge de Frutos, Oscar Valentin, Unai Lopez, Alvaro Garcia; Adrian Embarba, Sergio Camello
UNAVAILABLE: Dani Cardenas (Injured), Alfonso Espino (Injured), Diego Mendez (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
OSASUNA TEAM NEWS: FRESH CONCERNS
Osasuna have been dealing without any real concerns throughout this campaign but Vicente Moreno does now have to deal with Iker Munoz being out with Abel Bretones a doubt.
As well as those two issues, the one concern they have had has been key attacker Kike Barja being a long-term injury absentee as he is suffering with an ACL injury.
PREDICTED XI (4-1-4-1): Sergio Herrera; Jesus Areso, Alejandro Catena, Boyomo, Abel Bretones; Lucas Torro; Ruben Garcia, Jon Moncayola, Aimar Oroz, Bryan Zaragoza; Budimir
UNAVAILABLE: Iker Munoz (Injured), Kike Barja (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Abel Bretones (Injured)
RAYO VALLECANO VS OSASUNA PREDICTION
The results of these two sides so far this season may suggest that Osasuna are actually the favourites for this one. However, Rayo have been much the better of the two in terms of their performance level with the Madrid-based club even playing better than Osasuna have as they lost to Espanyol due to a 96th minute strike from Alejo Veliz. Given that and their home advantage under the lights at Vallecas, backing Rayo looks the way to go for this one.
RAYO VALLECANO VS OSASUNA TIP: RAYO VALLECANO TO WIN
