Rayo Vallecano vs Celta Vigo prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-01-09 20:00.
[p]Rayo Vallecano spent the Christmas break in the bottom half of the table for a second consecutive La Liga season, but showed themselves to be capable of much more right through December. After moving further away from the relegation zone with a crucial 1-0 win at Valencia, they shared the points with three top-half opponents to go into 2025 seven points ahead of the relegation zone.[/p]
[p]Head coach Iñigo Pérez said their trajectory was “positive after coming off a complex year” but the self-described “perfectionist” insists there is a long way to go yet. Rayo’s home fans, for example, would be particularly keen to start 2025 on a winning note after seeing their side win just one of their last six La Liga home games of 2024 (D3, L2).[/p]
[p]Recent H2H history points to yet another stalemate for Rayo, as visiting Celta Vigo recorded 0-0 draws in each of their last three league trips to Vallecas. But no La Liga club had played in fewer draws than Celta’s three prior to this round, whilst there were very few surprise results with a joint-league high 13 of their 18 La Liga games this season won by the pre-match favourites on the day (D3, L2).[/p]
[p]Their most recent league outing bucked that trend – a 2-0 win at home to Real Sociedad that manager Claudio Giráldez said “lays the foundations for what will be a very successful 2025”. Giráldez’s side are just two points ahead of Rayo and stuck in a mid-table position because of their tremendous home success being cancelled out by continued woes on the road in La Liga (W1, D1, L6), with the Sky Blues conceding an average of 2.4 goals per away game.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Isi PalazĂłn played a decisive role in Rayo’s December success, scoring equalisers after half-time in two of their last three league fixtures. Celta striker Iago Aspas may have fond memories of this matchup, as his first La Liga brace was against Rayo and he has recorded another two against them since.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Rayo have failed to score in each of the last six H2Hs.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]