Las Palmas Rayo Vallecano prediction 2023-10-22

Las Palmas vs Rayo Vallecano prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-10-21 12:00.
After securing second spot in the Segunda División last campaign and gaining promotion to La Liga (LL), many would have predicted Las Palmas to struggle, but they’ve started strongly. With nine matches played, García Pimienta’s side have amassed 11 points (W3, D2, L4) and sit safely in mid-table, a position they’ll hope to occupy come May 26th next year.

There’s been one clear tendency with Las Palmas’ LL games in 2023/24 – the majority have remained relatively low-scoring. While their league-low tally of six goals scored continues to be a concern, the Canary Islanders can at least also boast one of LL’s strongest defences, having conceded just eight times. That’s the joint second-fewest after league leaders Real Madrid, a strength which could help Los Amarillos secure a third straight top-flight victory for the first time since April 2016!

Visiting Rayo Vallecano return from the international break on 13 points after making their own solid start (W3, D4, L2). With one eye on potential European qualification this term, the Madrid-based outfit need to get back to winning ways after drawing their last four LL outings, as they look to avoid five successive stalemates for the first time in their top-flight history.

What might give Rayo the psychological edge here instead is the fact that they’ve won the three most recent LL H2Hs without even conceding a goal, and haven’t lost to Las Palmas in any competition since 2012 (W3, D4). They also remain defensively solid on the road so far this season, keeping three clean sheets across their five away LL outings, which is just two fewer shutouts than in the whole of the last campaign!

Players to watch: Las Palmas captain Jonathan Viera has netted two LL goals in 2023/24, while none of his last 18 goalscoring club appearances have ended in defeat (W11, D7). Álvaro García is Rayo’s top LL scorer this term (G3), with two of those strikes being match openers.

Hot stat: Las Palmas and Rayo have seen both sides find the net in just three of their nine LL games this season – the joint second-fewest in the competition.