Villarreal vs Rayo Vallecano Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Spanish Primera
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These have been two of the most entertaining teams to watch in La Liga so far this season and this meeting at El Madrigal between Villarreal and Rayo Vallecano as the potential to be a genuinely brilliant encounter for the neutral.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 2nd November, 2024 - UK – 5:30pm / US ET – 1:30pm / US PT – 10:30am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Villarreal vs Rayo Vallecano may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
VILLARREAL PREVIEW: YELLOW SUBMARINE A RISING
Former Valencia and Olympique de Marseille boss Marcelino has been in charge of Villarreal for just short of 12 months and he has helped the Yellow Submarine propel themselves from the bottom-half of La Liga to the top four and the UEFA Champions League spots ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures.
Villarreal’s 11 matches in La Liga have consisted of 39 goals with 20 scored and 19 conceded. They come into this one on the back of a 6-1 thrashing of lower league Poblense in the first round of the Copa del Rey in midweek after they had defeated Real Valladolid by two goals to one last weekend.
RAYO VALLECANO PREVIEW: RAYO OF LIGHT
Rayo Vallecano underperformed significantly for much of last season before the sacking of Francisco. He was replaced by Inigo Perez, the former assistant coach of Andoni Iraola, and he has implemented a more proactive and attacking, intense style of football as they begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting in the top-half of the table.
The visitors come into this one on the back of their own hammering in midweek as they beat Villamuriel by five goals to nil in the first round of the Copa del Rey. Rayo Vallecano edged past Deportivo Alaves at Vallecas last weekend and they have suffered just one defeat in their last eight matches across all competitions.
VILLARREAL TEAM NEWS: KEY ABSENTEES
The home team are dealing with several injury concerns for this weekend with defenders Eric Bailly and Juan Foyth both unavailable for the Yellow Submarine.
As well as that defensive duo, they are also without Denis Suarez with both Alfonso Pedraza and Gerard Moreno potentially missing as injury doubts.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Conde; Kiko Femenia, Raul Albiol, Costa, Sergi Cardona; Akhomach, Santi Comesana, Dani Parejo, Alex Baena; Pepe, Barry
UNAVAILABLE: Bailly (Injured), Foyth (Injured), Denis Suarez (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Alfonso Pedraza (Injured), Gerard Moreno (Injured)
RAYO VALLECANO TEAM NEWS: COUPLE OF SUSPENSIONS
Pep Chavarria has returned from injury which is handy for Rayo Vallecano because they have been without fellow left-back Alfonso Espino due to a broken foot.
The visitors will be missing a couple of other key players due to suspension for this one, too, with defender Abdul Mumin and Unai Lopez both sidelined.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Alex Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Aridane Hernandez, Pep Chavarria; Jorge de Frutos, Oscar Valentin, Unai Lopez, Alvaro Garcia; Isi Palazon, Sergi Camello
UNAVAILABLE: Mumin (Suspended), Alfonso Espino (Injured), Unai Lopez (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE: Diego Mendez (Injured)
VILLARREAL VS RAYO VALLECANO PREDICTION
Villarreal have been entertaining and fascinating to watch throughout the campaign as they try and challenge for UEFA Champions League qualification once again and even try and hold onto the coattails of Barcelona at the top-of-the-table. Rayo will try their best to give as good as they get, though, so that doesn’t mean it will be a one-sided affair. Villarreal may well be favourites but it should remain a good game for the neutral.
VILLARREAL VS RAYO VALLECANO TIP: VILLARREAL TO WIN & BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
