Espanyol vs Rayo Vallecano prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-08-30 17:15.
[p]A trip to the capital in midweek saw Espanyol register their first point since returning to the top-flight, as they held AtlĂ©tico Madrid to a goalless draw. It was a backs-to-the-wall effort from the Parakeets as they faced 2.67 xG without conceding, yet despite the positive outcome, concerns remain about their output at the other end of the pitch as theyâre the only side in La Liga yet to score a goal![/p]
[p]That makes this their longest scoring drought in La Liga since a run of eight without finding the net between July 2020 and August 2021, with a La Liga 2 season sandwiched in the middle. Boss Manolo GonzĂĄlez will therefore be desperate for his side to break their duck here, but heâll hope history doesnât repeat itself as Espanyol got their first league win of the 2022/23 season on matchday four and went on to be relegated![/p]
[p]Their first home game of that season was a 2-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano, and this is fast becoming one of the visitorsâ favourite venues having won three straight H2Hs at the RCDE Stadium. Rayo have emerged with plenty of credit from a tough first three games of the campaign (W1, D1, L1), though they conceded twice in the second half to lose against Barcelona in midweek (2-1).[/p]
[p]A third away game from four now awaits for Iñigo PĂ©rezâs men, which may be particularly worrying for the travelling contingent given that theyâve won just one of their last 11 away league matches (D4, L6). Most concerningly, Rayo failed to score eight times in that run, so theyâll certainly be encouraged by the fact theyâve netted on each of their last ten visits to Espanyol in the top-flight.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Espanyol striker Javi Puado has faced Rayo a joint career high eight times, and heâs been in the thick of the action, directly contributing to three goals while also being yellow carded twice. For the visitors, Isi PalazĂłn opened the scoring on his last visit to Espanyol and four of his six personal H2Hs ended in Rayo victories âto nilâ.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: The away side on the day won each of the last three H2Hs, scoring exactly once before half-time.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Ryan Fisher[/i][/p]