Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
Rayo Vallecano
Real Valladolid
Rayo Vallecano and Valladolid will kick off La Liga’s 23rd round. The match is set for Friday, February 7, at 21:00 CET, and I have a betting tip for the winner.
Rayo Vallecano vs Valladolid: Match facts and H2H
- Rayo Vallecano are unbeaten in their last three matches, winning the last two.
- Valladolid have lost their last three games with a goal difference of 2:10.
- Rayo Vallecano are on a 12-match scoring streak.
- Valladolid have lost their last five away matches.
- Valladolid have the worst defense in La Liga, conceding 47 goals in 22 matches.
- Valladolid have scored just 15 goals in 22 games—the worst attacking record in the league.
- Rayo Vallecano have lost only 8% of their matches this season without scoring.
- Rayo won the reverse fixture 2-1 and have beaten Valladolid three times in their last five meetings, with one draw and one defeat.
Rayo Vallecano vs Valladolid: Match preview
Rayo Vallecano are having a solid season and currently sit in the European qualification spots. After 22 matches, they have accumulated 32 points, placing them sixth in the table. However, the battle for this position is tight, with only three points separating sixth from tenth place. Meanwhile, Villarreal, in fifth place, are five points ahead, making the fight for a higher spot more challenging. Rayo are on an impressive unbeaten run in La Liga, going eight games without defeat.
Valladolid, meanwhile, earned promotion from the Segunda División last season but now find themselves in serious danger of relegation. They are currently bottom of the table with just 15 points from 22 matches, trailing safety by eight points. Their recent form is dire—four defeats in their last five games, including three consecutive losses with a 2:10 goal difference. They also have both the worst attack (15 goals scored) and the worst defense (47 goals conceded) in the league.
Probable lineups
- Rayo Vallecano: Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mumin, Chavarría; Siss, U. López; De Frutos, Palazón, A. García; Camello.
- Valladolid: Hein; Pérez, J. Sánchez, Torres, Rosa; Tuhami, Martín, Djuric, Amallah, Silla; André.
Prediction
Valladolid are clear underdogs in this match and in La Liga overall. Rayo are in great form, and I believe they will extend their unbeaten run. My bet is on Rayo Vallecano to win, with odds of 1.46.
