La Liga | Gameweek 32

Apr 19, 2025 at 1pm UK

Estadio de Vallecas

Rayo Vallecano vs Valencia

Match preview

Rayo have won 10, drawn 10 and lost 11 of their 31 league games this term, picking up 40 points to sit 10th in the standings, eight points behind sixth-placed Real Betis.

Not so long ago, the capital side were a European contender in the Spanish top flight, but their recent form has been disappointing, with just one win in their last eight matches, while they have lost their last two against Espanyol and Athletic Bilbao.

Inigo Perez's side go into the game on the back of a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Athletic and have not won in front of their own supporters since the start of February, conceding four goals to Espanyol in their last home game.

Rayo finished 17th in the Spanish top flight last season, so there was plenty of room for improvement in the current campaign, and despite their recent struggles, they have been solid in 2024-25.

The Madrid side have only lost once to Valencia in La Liga since November 2018, and they recorded a 1-0 win at the Mestalla in the reverse fixture between the two sides earlier this season.

Valencia have eased their relegation fears in recent weeks with an excellent run of form that has seen them win four of their last five games, including their last three against Mallorca, Real Madrid and Sevilla.

Los Che have lost just one of their last nine La Liga games, that coming against Atletico Madrid, and currently sit 13th in the table with 37 points from their opening 31 games of the season.

Carlos Corberan's side are eight points clear of the relegation zone, so it is hard to see them falling back into trouble at this stage, while they are only three points behind 10th-placed Rayo.

It is not impossible to imagine Valencia finishing as high as seventh if their good form continues, which would be quite an achievement given that relegation looked a real possibility not too long ago.

Los Che have been excellent at home this season, recording eight wins, but they have won just one of their 15 league games away from home, suffering seven defeats in the process.

Recent Performance

Rayo Vallecano La Liga form:DLDWLL

Valencia La Liga form:DWDWWW

Team News

Rayo will be without the services of Sergio Camello, Jonathan Montiel and Abdul Mumin on Saturday, but otherwise the home side are in good shape with no new problems to report.

Coach Perez is expected to make a number of changes to the side that kicked off against Athletic, with Unai Lopez and Adri Embarba likely to come in.

Randy Nteka will also be in contention for a place in the final third of the field, but Alvaro Garcia could retain his starting role, with Jorge de Frutos continuing on the right for the home side.

For Valencia, Thierry Correia remains a long-term absentee with a serious knee injury, but the visitors did not suffer any fresh problems in their one-goal win over Sevilla last time out.

Head coach Corberan is likely to name an unchanged side for the game, with Umar Sadiq likely to come in as a central defender, while Hugo Duro will be kept in reserve.

The future of Javi Guerra is currently the subject of much speculation, but the Spaniard is in excellent form and will be back in the heart of Valencia's midfield on Saturday afternoon.

Possible starting lineup

Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:

Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Hernandez, Chavarria; Diaz, Ciss; De Frutos, Lopez, Embarba; A Garcia

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Tarrega, Mosquera, Gaya; Guerra, Barrenechea; Rioja, Almeida, D Lopez; Sadiq