Match preview

Rayo finished a disappointing 17th in La Liga last term, so there was plenty of room for improvement during the 2024-25 campaign, and it has been a solid season to date for the capital outfit.

Inigo Perez's side have a record of six wins, eight draws and six defeats from their 20 league matches, which has left them in ninth spot in the division on 26 points, only four points behind sixth-placed Mallorca in the race for the European spots.

Rayo are seven points clear of the relegation zone, meanwhile, and they have only been beaten in one of their last nine matches in all competitions, which was a 3-1 reverse to Real Sociedad in the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey.

Los Franjirrojos are without a defeat in their last six league matches, including a 1-1 draw with Osasuna last time out, while they beat Celta Vigo 2-1 in their last fixture in front of their own supporters.

Rayo have only picked up 12 points from their nine league games on home soil this term, though, and they will be welcoming a Girona outfit that have avoided defeat in six of their 10 away La Liga fixtures in 2024-25.

Girona will enter this contest off the back of a 1-0 defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday night, with the result leaving them down in 31st spot in the overall table, only picking up three points from seven matches.

It has been a struggle for the Catalan outfit in Europe this term, but the fact that they are even competing at that level is incredible, and it is a historic campaign for the team, who finished third in Spain's top flight last term.

Michel's side have found it difficult to match last season's heroics, but a respectable La Liga campaign has seen them pick up 28 points from 20 matches, which has left them in eighth, just two points behind sixth-placed Mallorca.

The White and Reds were also beaten 2-1 at home by Sevilla in the league last weekend, so it has not been a happy start to 2025, and the visitors will not have had long to prepare for this contest.

Girona actually did the double over Rayo last term, winning 2-1 away and 3-0 at home, but the points were shared in a goalless draw when the two teams locked horns in the reverse match earlier this season.

Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:

Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mumin, Chavarria; De Frutos, Valentin, Ciss, Embarba; Palazon, Camello

Girona possible starting lineup:

Gazzaniga; A Martinez, D Lopez, Krejci, Blind; Romeu, Martin; Tsyhankov, Asprilla, Gil; Ruiz