Rayo Vallecano vs Villarreal Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Rayo Vallecano are a brilliant team to watch and they are chasing a top six finish and potential UEFA qualification as they take on top four chasers Villarreal at Vallecas this weekend.

Kick-off date/time: Saturday 22nd February, 2025: UK – 1:00pm / US ET – 8:00am / US PT – 5:00am

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 Villarreal may be televised on one of their affiliated channels

How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+

Rayo Vallecano Team News: Atacking issues

Raul de Tomas has been sidelined due to illness for Rayo Vallecano for a while now and they are also without another fellow key attacker Sergio Camello. Defensive midfielder Unai Lopez remains an injury doubt due to a hamstring issue.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Auguste Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mumin, Pep Chavarria; Pablo Diaz, Ciss; Jorge de Frutos, Isi Palazon, Alvaro Garcia; Nteka

Unavailable: Sergio Camello (Injured), Raul de Tomas (Illness)

Questionable: Unai Lopez (Injured)

Villarreal Team News: Gerard a doubt

Key attacker Gerard Moreno is an injury doubt due to a slight strain ahead of this one alongside former Watford defender Kiko Femenia. They remain without both Alfonso Pedraza and Ilias Akhomach, too.

Predicted XI (4-4-2): Conde; Pau Navarro, Foyth, Costa, Sergi Cardona; Yeremy Pino, Gueye, Dani Parejo, Alex Baena; Pepe, Ayoze

Unavailable: Alfonso Pedraza (Injured), Akhomach (Injured)

Questionable: Kiko Femenia (Injured), Gerard (Injured)

Rayo Vallecano vs Villarreal Prediction

Rayo Vallecano, with Andoni Iraola’s former assistant Inigo Perez at the helm, attempt to swarm all of the opposition they face at Vallecas with an intense pressing style designed to suffocate sides. They were beaten 1-0 by Barcelona last week due to a Robert Lewandowski penalty but remain firmly in contention for a top six finish. Villarreal will be frustrated to be outside of the top four but the Yellow Submarine have been much-improved after a dip in form throughout the autumn. Marcelino’s men shared a 1-1 draw with Valencia last weekend and are now unbeaten in their last five matches in La Liga with their entertaining style of football producing 82 goals in 24 matches. This should be quite a fun watch for the neutral in which both teams scoring seems a good bet.

Rayo Vallecano vs Villarreal Tip: Both teams to score