La Liga | Gameweek 29

Mar 29, 2025 at 5.30pm UK

Estadio de Mendizorroza

Alaves vs Rayo Vallecano

Match preview

Alaves finished 10th in La Liga last season, with the Basque side enjoying an excellent campaign after winning promotion from the second tier, but they are currently involved in a huge battle to stay in the division.

The Blue and Whites have six wins, nine draws and 13 defeats from 28 games this term, with their 27 points sitting them in 17th place, level on points with 18th-placed Leganes.

Alaves have been beaten in only one of their last five league games, however, and have taken five points from their last three La Liga matches against Mallorca, Villarreal and Las Palmas.

El Glorioso have struggled at home this season, taking just 16 points from their 13 games in front of their own fans, while Rayo have taken 17 points from their 14 away games in the 2024-25 campaign.

Eduardo Coudet's side have struggled defensively for much of the season, conceding 42 times, but Rayo have not been particularly prolific in front of goal, finding the back of the net just 31 times in 28 league games.

Rayo's European hopes have faded in recent weeks and they have slipped to ninth in the standings, seven points behind sixth-placed Real Betis and just three points above 13th-placed Girona.

Los Franjirrojos have not won since the start of February, losing three and drawing two of their last five league games, including a 2-2 draw with Real Sociedad before the March international break.

Inigo Perez's side have lost their last two away games, although those defeats came against Barcelona and Real Madrid, and Rayo put in an excellent performance in both games.

The capital side have conceded just 12 times on the road this season, while Alaves have scored just 11 home goals in 2024-25, so it will be surprising if this is a high-scoring affair.

Rayo finished 17th in La Liga last season, so there has been a huge improvement this term, but it would be a disappointment if they failed to finish in the top 10, given that they were in European contention not so long ago.

Recent Performance

Alaves La Liga form:LDLDWD

Rayo Vallecano La Liga form:WLLDLD

Team News

Alaves will welcome back three players from suspension this weekend, with Antonio Blanco, Antonio Sivera and Moussa Diarra all available, while Tomas Conechny remains on the sidelines.

Coudet is expected to stick with the majority of the players who started against Las Palmas.

However, there could be some changes in wide areas, with Jon Guridi likely to be rewarded with a start after coming off the bench to score in the 2-2 draw with Diego Martinez's side before the international break.

Rayo are without Florian Lejeune through suspension, while Sergio Camello, Jonathan Montiel, Randy Nteka, Abdul Mumin, Isi Palazon and Raul de Tomas are all unavailable.

Lejeune's absence could see Ivan Balliu come in at the back, but otherwise it could be the same side that started against Real Sociedad, with Sergi Guardiola playing in the middle.

There is much speculation surrounding Andrei Ratiu, with the right-back a top target for Barcelona this summer, and he will be back in the starting line-up for Rayo on Saturday.

Possible starting lineup

Alaves possible starting lineup:

Sivera; Tenaglia, Abqar, Mourino, M Sanchez; Guridi, Jordan, Guevara, Alena; T Martinez, Martin

Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:

Batalla; Ratiu, Balliu, Hernandez, Chavarria; Ciss, Diaz; De Frutos, Trejo, A Garcia; Guardiola