Alaves vs Rayo Vallecano prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-03-09 13:00.
[p]Three successive La Liga wins to close out January had many in the AlavĂ©s camp confident theyâd avoid a battle to stay up after a strong campaign back in Spainâs top-tier. However, five successive winless La Liga matches since (D3, L2) will have the Babazorros starting to look nervously over their shoulder. They do still hold a comfortable ten-point buffer to the relegation zone coming into the weekend, but defeat here against fellow strugglers Rayo Vallecano could initiate an air of unease. [/p]
[p]What should breed confidence, and indeed whatâs been key to their relative success in the campaign so far, is AlavĂ©sâ strong record against competitors around them in the table. The home side have lost only two of their 13 La Liga games against teams ranked 12th or lower coming into this gameweek, none of which came at home (W4, D2).[/p]
[p]One did come in the reverse fixture though, tipping the recent H2H La Liga scales just about in Rayoâs favour, with the Madrid side winning three of the past five top-tier meetings (L2). But they travel with a winless league run exceeding that of their hosts (D3, L5) and missed the chance to put some greater daylight between themselves and 18th-place CĂĄdiz when the two met last time out, conceding late to draw 1-1. [/p]
[p]Still, new manager Iñigo PĂ©rez will be relatively happy with the start heâs made after just one defeat in his first three matches – including a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid. If he can achieve that first elusive win here, itâd not only potentially extend the seven-point gap to the relegation zone, but also see Rayo complete a first La Liga double over AlavĂ©s since 2001/02. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Getting exciting teenager Samu Omorodion back in the thick of the action should be key for AlavĂ©s. Heâs failed to score in three La Liga games, having scored four goals in the three games prior to that. Rayoâs ââĂlvaro GarcĂa Rivera set up the second in the last H2H win (2-0) and scored in two of his sideâs last three away matches. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Both these sides have conceded 12 goals each beyond the 75th minute – only two La Liga sides have a worst such record coming into the round. [/p]