Rayo Vallecano vs Osasuna prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-09-15 19:00.
[p]After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Rayo Vallecano have not made the start to the  campaign that they would have hoped for. Los Franjirrojos went into the international break on the back of successive 2-1 defeats to Barcelona and Espanyol – despite scoring first in each game – as they failed to back up their two-game unbeaten start (W1, D1), leaving them on four points from as many outings.[/p]
[p]Manager Iñigo PĂ©rez will therefore hope that two weeks on the training pitch will help his squad get back on the winning trail – a quest helped by the signing of Colombia star James RodrĂguez, who could make his debut here. The Rayo fans will be desperate for inspiration from somewhere having seen their side win just three of their last 18 home league outings (D8, L7), but four defeats from the last six H2Hs with Osasuna suggests that may be a struggle (W2).[/p]
[p]Osasuna haven’t been so comfortable when travelling in this fixture however, losing three of their last four league trips to the Vallecas. Los Rojillos have enjoyed a more positive start to the season under new manager Vicente Moreno (W2, D1, L1), with a 3-2 victory over Celta Vigo heading into the international break leaving them three points better off than their hosts here.[/p]
[p]However, three of those matches were on home soil, with their only defeat coming on the road in the form of a 4-0 drubbing at Girona. That forms part of a concerning run of away form that’s seen Osasuna lose three of their last five away games in La Liga (W1, D1), conceding 12 goals in the process![/p]
[p]Players to watch: Rayo defender Florian Lejeune has faced Osasuna more than any other team in his career, but only won three of 14 H2Hs (D4, L7) – only against AtlĂ©tico Madrid has he lost more. RubĂ©n GarcĂa will attempt to extend that miserable record – the winger has seen 12 of his last 16 La Liga goals serve as the first or last of the match, with two of the strikes in that sequence coming against Rayo.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Ahead of this round, Rayo are one of six teams in La Liga yet to be trailing a game at half-time this season.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]