Rayo Vallecano will be looking to bounce back from recent defeats as they prepare to face Alaves in their upcoming La Liga clash on Friday night. With both teams having secured six points from their opening four matches, this promises to be an exciting encounter.
Rayo had a strong start to the season, securing victories against Almeria and Granada. However, they suffered a devastating 7-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in their last home game.
Despite the setback, Francisco’s side showed improvement in their subsequent match against Real Betis. Currently sitting in the 12th position, Rayo aims to secure a top-half spot this season.
Alaves, on the other hand, successfully returned to La Liga after their relegation in the 2021-22 season. They have also accumulated six points so far, placing them above Rayo in the table.
Alaves had a mixed start to the campaign, with a defeat against Cadiz followed by a thrilling 4-3 victory over Sevilla in front of their home crowd. They then suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to Getafe but ended the previous round with a 1-0 win over Valencia.
In terms of team news, Rayo Vallecano might be without Jose Angel Pozo due to a muscular issue. However, head coach Francisco is expected to field a strong lineup, with Jorge de Frutos and Sergio Camello potentially starting. Kike Perez could also feature in midfield.
Alaves will continue to miss Giuliano Simeone due to a long-term ankle injury. The majority of the lineup that faced Valencia in their previous match is expected to start, but there might be a change on the right flank, with Alex Sola likely to replace Xeber Alkain.
Probable Starting Lineups:
Rayo Vallecano:
- Dimitrievski
- Balliu
- Aridane
- Lejeune
- Espino
- De Frutos
- Perez
- Valentin
- A Garcia
- Camello
- Nteka
Alaves:
- Sivera
- Gorosabel
- Marin
- Sedlar
- Duarte
- Guevara
- Blanco
- Sola
- Guridi
- Rioja
- Kike Garcia
In terms of our prediction, we anticipate an evenly contested match that could end in a 1-1 draw. Both teams have shown potential this season, with Alaves impressing in their recent win and Rayo aiming to recover from their defeat against Real Betis.