Villarreal vs Rayo Vallecano prediction, H2H & Probable Line-ups – December 18, 2024
Dillan George
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
On Wednesday, December 18, in a rescheduled match of La Liga’s 12th round, Villarreal will host Rayo Vallecano. The game kicks off at 21:30 CET. My suggested bet for this match is on the winner.
Interesting facts about the match and head-to-head history
- This match was postponed due to the severe DANA storm that hit Spain in late October.
- Villarreal is winless in their last 5 matches across all competitions.
- Rayo Vallecano has lost just 2 of their last 5 away matches.
- In 31 meetings between these teams, Villarreal holds the advantage with 16 wins to Rayo’s 8.
Match preview
Villarreal started this season strongly, but the last month has been a disaster for the “Yellow Submarine.” The team has seemingly struggled to regain momentum after the break caused by the DANA storm.
Despite this, Villarreal remains a contender for a top-four finish. Currently in sixth place, they trail the fourth spot by 7 points but have two games in hand.
Coming into this match, Villarreal is on a three-game losing streak, with defeats to Real Betis (1-2), Athletic Bilbao (0-2), and a shocking 0-1 loss to Pontevedra in the Copa del Rey.
Rayo Vallecano, meanwhile, has established itself as a solid mid-table side this season, a stark contrast to their relegation battle in the previous campaign. They sit in 13th place with 20 points and a game in hand. A victory against Villarreal could propel them into the top 10.
Over the weekend, Rayo pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the week, drawing 3-3 with Real Madrid. Prior to that, they defeated Valencia 1-0 but suffered losses to Athletic Bilbao (1-2) and Sevilla (0-1).
Probable lineups
- Villarreal: Luiz Junior; Bernat, Albiol, Bailly, Cardona; Pino, Gueye, Baena, Cabanes; Moreno, Perez.
- Rayo Vallecano: Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mumin, Chavarría; Ciss, López, De Frutos, Palazón, Embarba; Nteka.
Prediction for Villarreal vs Rayo Vallecano
Rayo expended significant energy in their draw with Real Madrid, while Villarreal urgently needs to end their poor run. My prediction: a win for the visitors.
