Rayo Vallecano vs Sevilla Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Rayo Vallecano’s entertaining style of football has them pushing for the European spots as they now welcome a Sevilla side in with a chance of also earning European qualification.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 1st March, 2025: UK – 3:15pm / US ET – 10:15am / US PT – 7:15am
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 Sevilla may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
Rayo Vallecano Preview: The swarm of Rayo
Coached by Andoni Iraola’s former assistant Inigo Perez, Rayo Vallecano have rediscovered their impressive and intense pressing style of football designed to swarm and suffocate their opposition as they chase a top seven or eight finish in La Liga.
The capital city club were in very impressive form but they now come into this one on the back of back-to-back defeats after losing 1-0 away at Barcelona before suffering the same scoreline at home to Villarreal in a game in which they went down to ten men before half-time.
Sevilla Preview: Frustration against Mallorca
Sevilla, due to the congested and inconsistent nature of the middle-of-the-table in La Liga, have given themselves a chance of finishing in the top seven or eight finish and potential European qualification this season.
They were, though, left frustrated by Real Mallorca at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan last weekend with a late equaliser denying them all three points in a 1-1 draw down in Andalusia. They have now suffered just one defeat in their last seven matches in the league.
Rayo Vallecano Team News: Jorge de Frutos suspension
As mentioned, Rayo went down to ten men the other day and the man that was sent off, Jorge de Frutos, is now missing through suspension this weekend. Fellow key attacker Isi Palazon is an injury doubt, too, for the hosts.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Auguste Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mumin, Pep Chavarria; Pablo Diaz, Ciss; Adria Embarba, Oscar Trejo, Alvaro Garcia; Nteka
Unavailable: Jorge de Frutos (Suspended), Sergio Camello (Injured)
Questionable: Unai Lopez (Injured), Isi Palazon (Injured), Raul de Tomas (Illness)
Sevilla Team News: A few injuries
Sevilla remain without winter transfer window signing Akor Adams, who joined from Montpellier Herault last month but is now dealing with a thigh injury. They have a few other absentees such as Tanguy Nianzou and Albert Sambi Lokonga.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Nyland; Jose Angel Carmona, Bade, Kike Salas, Adria Pedrosa; Sow, Saul; Lukebakio, Juanlu Sanchez, Vargas; Isaac Romero
Unavailable: Nianzou (Injured), Sambi Lokonga (Injured), Adams (Injured), Peque (Injured)
Questionable:
Rayo Vallecano vs Sevilla Prediction
Rayo Vallecano, as mentioned, deploy swarming techniques when playing at Vallecas especially. With the tight ground and hostile fans behind the goal, they are able to cause any team issues at home. They welcome a Sevilla side that have developed a bit of a backbone that has gone missing in recent seasons but will be left immensely frustrated by their dropping of points against Real Mallorca last week. Siding with Rayo would appear a good bet for this one, given their home advantage.
Rayo Vallecano vs Sevilla Tip: Double chance – Rayo Vallecano to win or draw
