Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-10-19 12:00.
[p]Mallorca will be keen to not let a 2-1 defeat to Espanyol before the international break derail what has largely been a good start to the campaign. The Pirates had registered three successive La Liga victories prior – something they’d not managed previously since May 2012 – while a 14-point haul after nine outings is their joint-best total in a top-flight season since 2009/10.[/p]
[p]It has therefore been a wonderful start to life as manager for Jagoba Arrasate, who took charge in the summer and has got supporters dreaming of qualifying for European football for the first time in over 20 years. If they are to maintain that push however, Mallorca could do with improving their record at Son Moix, as they have only won one of their last five outings on home soil (D3, L1).[/p]
[p]Standing in their way are a Rayo Vallecano side whose current five-game unbeaten run (W2, D3) is their longest in La Liga since November. The most recent of those matches was a 2-1 success at Real Valladolid, when a pair of second half goals from Jorge de Frutos  helped the Red Sashes come from behind to win a league game for the second time already this season.[/p]
[p]As such, Iñigo Pérez’s side sit just one point behind Mallorca in the table, although the manager is trying to keep a lid on the excitement as Rayo seek their first top-half finish in La Liga in 12 years. Supporters may be well advised to heed that advice too, given that their team have lost four of the last five league H2Hs against Sunday’s opponents (D1), conceding at least two goals in each of those fixtures.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Mallorca veteran Dani RodrĂguez has scored ten of his last 13 goals before half-time, including a pair of strikes this season in wins for his side, albeit both arrived in away matches. Battling him for the limelight will be Rayo’s de Frutos, whose brace against Valladolid means he has won each of the last eight matches he’s scored in.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Mallorca are one of only two teams in La Liga yet to drop a single point after scoring the first goal this season, whereas Rayo have rescued six points from 1-0 down.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]