Rayo Vallecano vs Drita prediction: EUROPE: Conference League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-12-17 20:00.
[p]Both Rayo Vallecano and Drita have something to play for on the final UEFA Conference League matchday, with both needing a win to leave nothing to chance in their respective pushes.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Rayo Vallecano will secure a place in the last 16 without the need for a play-off if they win their final league phase match. The Red Sashes have ten points so far (W3, D1, L1), with two of those wins coming on home soil, where they have never lost in European football (W8, D1). Their form in the Conference League is at odds with results domestically, as a 0-0 stalemate with Real Betis on Monday extended a winless streak in La Liga to six matches (D4, L2). Estadio de Vallecas has remained a fortress throughout though, as Rayo haven’t been beaten on home turf since late September (W3, D3).[/p]
[p]Drita stand on the brink of history, as a point in this game would likely be enough to ensure they become the first Kosovan club to reach the knockout stage of a major UEFA tournament. One defeat from their five league phase games (W2, D2, L1) paints a pretty picture for the Kosovans, despite only scoring four goals! Their European fortunes have been better than their domestic ones, as they remain seven points off the summit in the Kosovan Superliga after a 1-1 draw at the weekend. That result contributes to a recent three-match winless run (D2, L1), and with their cushion to 25th standing at just two points, their demise could be coming at an inopportune time. [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Neither Rayo nor Drita have ever played a side from the opposition’s country before. [/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Rayo have attempted the most shots in the Conference League this season (94).[/p]
[p]The 37 corners taken by Rayo is a high for the Conference League in the league phase.[/p]
[p]Only four teams have had fewer yellow cards in this season’s league phase than Drita (eight).[/p]
[p]Seven of Drita’s last 11 European games produced under 2.5 goals.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Rayo’s Sergio Camello has seen seven of his last nine goals serve as the first or last of the game, including the opener against Jagiellonia last time out in this competition. Six of Arb Manaj’s nine strikes for Drita this season have come in Europe, while only one came in a losing cause across seven goalscoring appearances (W5, D2).[/p]
[p]Rayo’s Jorge De Frutos is a doubt, as is Fábio AlemĂŁo. Juan Camilo Mesa remains unavailable for Drita. [/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]The hosts’ form in this competition suggests backing Rayo to win to nil might be a smart bet.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Matt Jones[/i][/p]