Real Valladolid will be bidding to bounce back from successive defeats in Spain's top flight when they welcome Rayo Vallecano to Estadio Jose Zorrilla on Saturday evening.
The home side are currently 19th in the table, boasting five points from their opening eight matches, while Rayo Vallecano sit ninth, having collected 10 points from their first eight games of 2024-25.
Match preview
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Real Valladolid have won one, drawn two and lost five of their eight league matches this season to collect five points, which has left them in 19th spot in the table.
It is not time to hit the panic button, but the White and Violets have the worst defensive record in the division this term, conceding 17 times, while they have only found the back of the net on four occasions, which is the worst attacking record.
Real Valladolid were actually victorious in their opening league game of the season against Espanyol, but they have lost four of their last five matches, including their last two against Sevilla and Mallorca.
The low point of their season so far came at the end of August, when they were beaten 7-0 by Barcelona, but Paulo Pezzolano's side have very much been in their last two matches, narrowly losing to Sevilla and then Mallorca.
Real Valladolid have lost their last two league games against Rayo, including a 1-0 defeat in the corresponding fixture during the 2022-23 campaign, while they also lost 2-1 in Madrid during that particular season.
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Rayo Vallecano will enter this match off the back of three straight draws, sharing the points with Atletico Madrid, Girona and Leganes since a 3-1 home success over Osasuna in the middle of September.
Inigo Perez's side are therefore unbeaten since a 2-1 reverse to Espanyol at the end of August, and they have made an encouraging start to the season, sitting up in ninth position in the table.
Rayo Vallecano have won two, drawn two and lost two of their eight matches to collect 10 points, and they are only four points behind fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao on the same number of games.
Los Franjirrojos finished 17th in La Liga last season, which represented their worst campaign at the top level since 2018-29, so there is plenty of room for improvement during the current season.
As mentioned, the capital side have won their last two league games with Real Valladolid, while they have lost just one of their last five matches with Saturday's opponents in the top flight.
Team News
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Real Valladolid will be without the services of three players on Saturday, with Cenk Ozkacar, Javi Sanchez and Anuar Tuhami unavailable for selection.
Ivan Sanchez came off the bench to score against Mallorca last time out, and it seems likely that there will now be in a position in the starting side for the number 10.
Head coach Pezzolano could otherwise name an unchanged side, though, with a 4-3-3 formation set to include Juanmi Latasa through the middle and Raul Moro to the right.
As for Rayo Vallecano, Pep Chavarria, Alfonso Espino and Diego Mendez will miss the contest, but the visitors have not reported any fresh fitness concerns ahead of the clash.
Head coach Perez is likely to name the same XI that took to the field for the first whistle against Leganes, meaning another start through the middle for Sergio Camello.
James Rodriguez, Alvaro Garcia and Jorge de Frutos should operate in the areas behind, with the likes of Oscar Valentin and Randy Nteka expected to be on the bench for Saturday's fixture.
Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:
Hein; Perez, Bah, Torres, Rosa; Martin, Comert, Perez; Moro, Latasa, Sanchez
Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:
Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mumin, Balliu; U Lopez, Ciss; De Frutos, Rodriguez, A Garcia; Camello
We say: Real Valladolid 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
Rayo were 1-0 winners in the corresponding fixture during the 2022-23 campaign, and we can see the same scoreline in this fixture. Real Valladolid are struggling to pick up positive results at the moment and could lose again here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
