Rayo Vallecano vs Valladolid prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-02-06 20:00.
[p]Rayo Vallecano got away with a thrilling 1-0 win at Leganés, with goalkeeper Augusto Batalla saving a retaken penalty in the dying moments just after Leganés thought they had equalised from the spot. Perhaps that stroke of luck is why manager Iñigo Pérez refuses to get ahead of himself and declare sixth-placed Rayo a European contender, reaffirming that his only ambition at this stage is to seal their place in La Liga for 2025/26. [/p]
[p]Such humility has kept Rayo focused during what is now an eight-game unbeaten league run (W4, D4), which has seen them steadily climb the table. Successive 2-1 wins over Celta Vigo and Girona in their last two La Liga matches at Vallecas didn’t come easy, but it leaves them in a great position to secure three successive home league wins for the first time since May 2023 when bottom-of-the-table Real Valladolid visit. [/p]
[p]It’s been a season of gloom for Valladolid, who saw a 1-0 lead turn into a 2-1 loss against Rayo in the reverse fixture – a third consecutive H2H defeat. It was a match that again underlined how disorganised defending has been their Achilles’ heel this season, and their last game was perhaps the best example yet, with a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Villarreal taking their goals against tally to 47 for the season – a league high. [/p]
[p]It was also another indication that Valladolid have saved their worst football for their travels. A 3-2 October win at Alavés aside, Valladolid have lost their other ten La Liga away trips this term by an aggregate score of 30-5, and on that basis alone, there’s not a lot to suggest that Diego Cocca’s men will be closing the eight-point gap to safety here.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Jorge de Frutos has been a key figure for Rayo this campaign, scoring twice in the reverse H2H while also getting the winner at home to Celta Vigo last month. Meanwhile, Valladolid’s Selim Amallah’s last three strikes in all competitions this season have all come on the road – he opened the scoring in September’s reverse. [/p]
[p]Hot streak: Valladolid have conceded the opener in all 11 of their La Liga away games this term. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]