La Liga | Gameweek 26

Mar 1, 2025 at 3.15pm UK

Estadio de Vallecas

Rayo Vallecano vs Sevilla

Match preview

Rayo have never finished higher than eighth in the Spanish top flight, so there is a lot at stake for the capital club this term, and they are currently in a position to secure European football for the 2025-26 season.

Los Franjirrojos actually finished 17th in La Liga last term, so it has been a bit of a turnaround this term, with a record of nine wins, eight draws and eight defeats from 25 games giving them 35 points, which is currently enough for sixth place.

However, Inigo Perez's side have lost their last two league games against Barcelona and Villarreal, and they have a tough run of fixtures ahead of them, with Real Madrid and Real Sociedad the next two fixtures.

Only four points separate sixth-placed Rayo and 13th-placed Girona, an unbelievable gap at this stage of the season, so it is imperative that the capital side get back to winning ways on Saturday afternoon against a Sevilla side who are also in the European mix.

Rayo have only beaten Sevilla once in La Liga since January 2012, a 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture at the Estadio Ramon earlier this season.

Sevilla have a record of eight wins, eight draws and nine defeats from their 25 league games this season, and their 32 points leave them 11th in the standings, three points behind this weekend's opponents.

Los Nervionenses finished 14th in La Liga last season, their lowest position since they were relegated at the end of the 1999-2000 season, but they are on course for a better finish in 2024-25.

Garcia Pimienta's side have lost just one of their last seven league games and have not been beaten by anyone other than Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid or Barcelona since the start of November.

Sevilla were excellent on the road last time out, beating Real Valladolid 4-0, before drawing 1-1 with Mallorca last time out, making it three draws from their last five La Liga games.

Los Nervionenses have won just three away league games in 2024-25, but Rayo have been inconsistent in front of their own fans, dropping points in seven of their 12 La Liga home games.

Recent Performance

Rayo Vallecano La Liga form:DWWWLL

Sevilla La Liga form:WDDLWD

Team News

Rayo will be without the services of Joni Montiel, Raul de Tomas, Unai Lopez and Sergio Camello on Saturday, while Isi Palazon is still nursing the problem that forced him off early against Villarreal.

Jorge de Frutos will also be sidelined after receiving a red card in the first half of their last game.

As a result, Adri Embarba and Oscar Trejo are both likely to start, but Randy Nteka is likely to return to the midfield.

Sevilla, meanwhile, will be without Akor Adams and Tanguy Nianzou due to injury.

Albert Sambi Lokonga and Peque Fernandez are also major doubts with the same problems that kept them out of the Mallorca game, so there is a good chance that the visitors will be unchanged for this game.

Dodi Lukebakio has been a standout performer for Sevilla this season, finding the back of the net on 10 occasions in the Spanish top flight, and the 27-year-old will once again have a place on the right flank.

Possible starting lineup

Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:

Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mumin, Chavarria; Diaz, Ciss; Embarba, Trejo, A Garcia; Nteka

Sevilla possible starting lineup:

Nyland; Carmona, Bade, Salas, Pedrosa; Sow, Saul; Lukebakio, Juanlu, Vargas; Romero