Rayo Vallecano vs Girona prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-01-25 13:00.
[p]Rayo Vallecano may be dreaming of qualifying for European football for just the second time in their 101-year history, but they will be aware that a leaky defence is holding back their hopes of climbing the table. The Red Sashes are currently unbeaten across their last six top-flight games (W2, D4) but are still four points off the top six ahead of this round after letting a lead slip in three of those outings, including a 1-1 draw against Osasuna last time out.[/p]
[p]Iñigo Pérez’s side haven’t played in Europe since 2000/01, and a joint-league low of one clean sheet at home this season threatens to prolong that run. That sole shutout came back in October, a 1-0 success over Alavés, which serves as one of three La Liga victories (D3, L3) at Estadio de Vallecas, where Vallecano have worryingly dropped a divisional-high of 12 points after scoring first.[/p]
[p]Hoping to take advantage are a Girona side who are unbeaten in seven previous top-flight H2Hs (W4, D3). The visitors will be desperate to rekindle that kind of form, given they have lost two matches in a row, most recently a 1-0 reversal away to AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) on Wednesday, with their league phase elimination now confirmed.[/p]
[p]That adds to a miserable run of form for the White and Reds, who have picked up just two wins across their last ten outings (D1, L7) in all competitions. That contributes to having 21 points fewer than at the same stage of the 2023/24 La Liga campaign, meaning the pressure is firmly on manager MĂchel, whose side have an 11-point gap to bridge if they are to match last season’s feat of UCL qualification.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Vallecano’s Jorge de Frutos is enjoying his best goalscoring campaign since 2018/19, with his six strikes coming across four victories. Cristhian Stuani is Girona’s top scorer in the league this season despite having made each of his 15 appearances from the bench – his last 14 strikes in the top-flight have come after half time.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: A league-high 89% of Rayo Vallecano’s home league matches this season have seen both teams score.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]