Rayo Vallecano vs Alaves prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-09-14 19:00.
Following a fourth-round 1-0 loss away to Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano manager Francisco congratulated his players for not buckling after the opening goal as they did in their record-breaking loss to Atlético Madrid just five days earlier, believing the side had done “everything possible to take something positive” into the international break. They’ll be hoping to return here in the same manner in which they began the season, with a comfortable win over one of La Liga’s (LL) recent newcomers.
It was a pair of 2-0 wins against Granada and AlmerĂa, both of whom returned to Spain’s top flight this decade, that allowed them to retain a mid-table position before the international break after successive defeats. Plus, seven of their 32 LL points earned at home last season came against the trio of promoted clubs (W2, D1), suggesting Francisco has a good chance of replicating the win (3-1) at home to AlavĂ©s he enjoyed as Elche boss in 2021/22.
All four of AlavĂ©s LL games this season have seen the home side on the day win by a one-goal margin, a pattern that manager Luis GarcĂa Plaza will wish to break immediately as he looks to build on the 1-0 win at home to Valencia which secured his club’s best start to a LL season since 2018/19. GarcĂa admitted after that success that he saw “good signs” in the competitive spirit and fight shown by his players and was delighted to have already added six points to their total.
Alavés could have a modest aim in this campaign of simply booking their place in the division for next season, but if they’re to do so comfortably they’re going to have to travel better than they did in last season’s Segunda División, for the Babazorro’s came away with three points from just one visit to the other ten clubs that finished in the top half of La Liga2 last term (D4, L5).
Players to watch: The sight of the opposition could inspire Vallecano striker RaĂşl de Tomás to open his account for 2023/24, with the 28-year-old scoring in four of his five LL games against AlavĂ©s. Kike GarcĂa received special praise from his boss for the way he fought on after missing an early penalty against Valencia and could be inspired to emulate his LL goal at Rayo for Osasuna in 2021/22.
Hot stat: Just one of the eight LL games involving either club this season saw both teams score on the day.