Rayo Vallecano vs Girona: prediction, head-to-head stats and probable lineups — 11.05.2026
One of the standout fixtures of La Liga’s matchday 35 will take place on Monday in Madrid, where local side Rayo Vallecano host Girona at the Campo de Vallecas. The hosts, fresh off booking their ticket to the Conference League final, are still in the hunt for European qualification in La Liga, while the visitors are desperately trying to pull clear of the relegation zone. That’s why I’m backing an outcome in this clash with strong chances for success.
Match preview
Rayo Vallecano approach this game riding a wave of emotion: Iñigo Pérez’s side knocked out Strasbourg in the Conference League semifinals with a 2-0 aggregate and are now gearing up for a historic final against Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, the Madrid outfit haven’t lost ground domestically - last time out in La Liga, they beat Getafe 2-0 and now sit just two points shy of seventh place.
The hosts’ form is impressive: four wins in their last five matches across all competitions have given Rayo a rare sense of stability at the business end of the season. Yes, Pérez will have to make do without the suspended Isi Palazón, and Luis Felipe is injured, but the return of Camello, Pedro Díaz, Álvaro García, and Nteka to the starting lineup should inject fresh energy into the attack after a taxing European week.
Girona, by contrast, find themselves in a far more precarious position: Míchel’s team are 16th and only two points clear of the drop zone. Three straight defeats to Betis, Valencia, and Mallorca have seriously dented their league standing, and an upcoming run of fixtures against Real Sociedad, Atlético, and Elche leaves the Catalans with no room for a comfortable finish.
The visitors’ main issues are a lack of goals and a squad stretched thin. Vanat, Portu, Juan Carlos, and ter Stegen are all injured, Bryan Gil is suspended, and both Abel Ruiz and Donny van de Beek are doubtful. As a result, Míchel will have to patch together an attack from what’s left, pinning his hopes on Tsygankov, Unai, and Manchester City loanee Echeverri.
Probable lineups
- Rayo Vallecano: Batalla, Ratiu, Lejeune, Mendy, Chavarría, Díaz, Valentín, Pérez, Nteka, Álvaro García, Camello.
- Girona: Gazzaniga, Martínez, Blind, Reis, Moreno, Witsel, Beltrán, Tsygankov, Unai, Roca, Echeverri.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Rayo Vallecano have won four of their last five matches in all competitions.
- Girona have lost their last three La Liga matches - to Betis, Valencia, and Mallorca.
- In the first half of this season, Rayo beat Girona 3-1; overall, in 31 head-to-head meetings, both sides have 12 wins each.
- In five of their last seven La Liga matches at Vallecas, Rayo have won the second half.
- The Bees have scored fewer than two goals in 13 of their last 17 La Liga fixtures.
- In six of their previous seven matches, Míchel’s side have picked up fewer than four yellow cards.
Prediction
Rayo may rotate their squad a bit after their European triumph, but the emotional momentum and home advantage are clearly on their side right now. Pérez’s men have not only hit form at the right time, but also have an extra incentive: European football next season can be secured not just through the Conference League final, but also via the league. Girona will play with desperate motivation, but their current slump, lack of attacking threat, and injury woes make this trip to Madrid a daunting challenge. I expect a tight contest where the visitors will have their chances, but Rayo’s fresher structure and growing confidence should be decisive.
