Valencia vs Rayo Vallecano Preview: Team News & Prediction
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It has been a harrowing month or so off the pitch for the city and region of Valencia with football taking a backseat. On the pitch, Los Che are firmly involved in La Liga’s relegation battle with Rayo Vallecano now making the trip to Mestalla.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 7th December, 2024: UK – 5:30pm / US ET – 12:30pm / US PT – 9:30am
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Valencia vs Rayo Vallecano may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
Valencia Preview: Lowly Valencians
As mentioned, the last month or so has seen the city of Valencia in mourning following the deaths of many due to the flooding that hit the city and region. It caused postponements to three Valencia matches as they continue to get back up and running on the pitch.
Ruben Baraja’s side begin the weekend’s round of fixtures sitting tucked in the bottom three and the relegation places with just two victories in their opening 13 matches. They did return from their break with an emotional 4-2 defeat of an out of form Real Betis side a couple of weeks ago but then lost 2-1 to Real Mallorca in the Balearic Islands last weekend before a hard-fought 3-1 win over Ejea in the Copa del Rey in midweek.
Rayo Vallecano Preview: Rayo’s intensity
Inigo Perez, the former assistant to Andoni Iraola at Rayo Vallecano, has implemented a similarly intense and entertaining style of football as to what Andoni Iraola was able to achieve at Vallecas. They are on a poor run of form ahead of this one, though, as they slip into the bottom-half of La Liga.
The visitors come into this one on the back of a 3-2 win over Unionistas in the second round of the Copa del Rey in midweek in a game in which they were 2-0 down inside 20 minutes of that match. They have now suffered three successive defeats in the top-flight, though, after their 2-1 loss at home to high flying Athletic Club last weekend.
Valencia Team News: Defensive injuries
The hosts are dealing with plenty of defensive injury issues for this weekend as experienced centre-back Mouctar Diakhaby remains sidelined alongside Thierry Correia.
As well as those two, former Clermont defender Maximiliano Caufriez is a doubt, whilst striker Rafa Mir has been suspended internally by the club due to an ongoing police investigation into alleged sexual assault.
Predicted XI (5-4-1): Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Carlos Tarrega, Cristhian Mosquera, Gasiorowski, Jose Luis Gaya; Luis Rioja, Barrenechea, Javi Guerra, Diego Lopez; Hugo Duro
Unavailable: Correia (Injured), Diakhaby (Injured), Rafa Mir (Disciplinary)
Questionable: Caufriez (Injured)
Rayo Vallecano Team News: Pacha Espino out
As was the case with Fran Garcia in Andoni Iraola’s system, left-back is a crucial role in the intense style of Inigo Perez but he has been dealing with issues throughout the campaign.
Key man Pacha Espino is once again now injured as he has been earlier this season but, fortunately, back-up left-back Pep Chavarria has returned to full fitness.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Alex Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mumin, Pep Chavarria; Isi Palazon, Ciss, Oscar Valentin, Alvaro Garcia; Nteka, Adrian Embarba
Unavailable: Pacha Espino (Injured)
Questionable:
Valencia vs Rayo Vallecano Prediction
Valencia have been entertaining to watch this season but that will be a concern for Ruben Baraja’s side. The reason they have performed above expectation under the former Valencia player has been down to a defensive control he has provided. Rayo will seek to exploit that leakiness with their own intense style as they try to play their way out of bad form. As a result, both teams scoring would appear a decent bet for this one at Mestalla.
Valencia vs Rayo Vallecano Tip: Both teams to score
