Rayo Vallecano vs Real Sociedad prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-01-20 13:00.
Fresh off the back of ending a three-match winless run (D1, L2) with a 1-0 victory at Real Valladolid, Rayo Vallecano now welcome in-form Real Sociedad for more La Liga (LL) action. It’s been a positive season for the Franjirrojos, who after avoiding defeat to other current members of the LL top four (W1, D2) this league campaign, now aim to complete the set as Sociedad come to town.
Vallecano have lost just five LL games so far, which is fewer than in any of their top-flight seasons after 17 games played since 2000/01. A win here could even see them move into the European places, but they’ll need to tip the H2H scales to do so, considering they haven’t beaten Sociedad in their last seven league meetings (D4, L3).
To make matters worse, their visitors are in ominous form having won their last four league matches on the spin. This includes a thoroughly impressive 3-1 win over Basque rivals Athletic Club last time out, which kept the pressure on perennial LL leaders Barcelona and Real Madrid and left Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil with feelings of "tremendous emotion’’
His side also edged Mallorca 1-0 in Tuesday’s Copa del Rey contest, further fuelling their momentum. Sociedad’s recent impressive exploits has also seen them strike first in their last five LL contests, and fast starts appear to be the key to their strong travelling league form as well considering the White and Blues have won six of their eight away games so far (L2), with those two defeats arriving on the only occasions they didn’t net the first goal.
Players to watch: Vallecano's Isi Palazón has five goals in LL so far, which is three more than in the entirety of his last league campaign. He’ll do well not to be upstaged by Sociedad’s veteran midfielder David Silva however, as he became the oldest player to assist a LL goal for the side in the 21st century in their recent Basque derby victory.
Hot stat: Six of the last seven H2Hs have witnessed both sides score.