Rayo Vallecano vs Villarreal prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-02-21 15:15.
[p]After victories by a one-goal margin over Celta Vigo, Girona and Real Valladolid since the start of January, Rayo Vallecano will be targeting a fourth successive home win in La Liga for the first time since October 2021 this weekend. That run is all the more surprising given that the Red Sashes had won only one of their six previous league games (D3, L2) at Vallecas from late September until the end of 2024.[/p]
[p]Against Villarreal, the hosts have lost just one of their last five H2Hs overall (W2, D2), a vast improvement on their previous 14 meetings, which brought 11 defeats (W2, D1). Rayoâs general form recently has been hugely impressive though, with Mondayâs 1-0 loss at high-flying Barcelona only their second in all competitions since early December (W7, D4).[/p]
[p]Although fifth-placed Villarreal – six points ahead of Rayo – failed to win six matches from late November to mid-December (D3, L3), they have emerged victorious from four of their last seven fixtures since then (D2, L1) and are unbeaten in their last five. It could have been even better, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Valencia last Saturday, conceding in the 84th minute for the second successive game.[/p]
[p]That draw followed a 2-1 victory at Las Palmas to make it six wins on the road in La Liga this season – a figure which only Barcelona can better. If they can make it seven this Saturday, then Villarreal will move within one point of the top four places before their rivals take to the field – the Yellow Submarine havenât finished in the La Liga top four since 2015/16.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Ălvaro GarcĂa opened the scoring in Decemberâs reverse fixture and has registered three goal contributions across Rayoâs last two home games (G1, A2). Ălex Baena got a goal and an assist in Villarrealâs last away encounter and has contributed four assists from his last two H2Hs against Rayo.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Villarreal have kept only one clean sheet in their last 27 La Liga away games (W12, D7, L8). [/p]
[p][i]Written by Tom Penn[/i][/p]