Rayo Vallecano stand on the brink of something special in the coming days as they eye a rare double triumph over Alaves and Crystal Palace. The team has shown real grit across all competitions lately and nobody saw them stringing together such a solid run at this stage of the season. Fans in the stands are buzzing with belief that their side can keep the momentum going and push higher up the table while also chasing glory in Europe. A couple of clean victories here would write a fresh chapter for the club and lift everyone involved.
Team Form
- Eight games without a loss in all tournaments with five wins and every victory coming by a shutout
- Recent 2-0 result against Villarreal proved they can match sides chasing Champions League spots
- Alaves have picked up vital survival points by beating Barcelona and Real Oviedo one nil each
- Both sides carry strong motivation with Alaves fighting relegation and Rayo eyeing seventh spot
The home side need points to stay clear of the bottom three while the visitors believe they can snatch European football for the second year running. Inigo Perez has done a fine job steering the ship and looks ready to bow out on a high if the results fall his way. Alaves on their part have tightened up at the back in recent weeks and look hard to break down when it matters most.
Tactical Analysis
- Rayo excel at keeping things tight at the back and hitting on the counter with pacey forwards
- Alaves rely on set pieces and compact defending to nick narrow wins in big games
- Both teams have shown they can grind out results rather than play open attacking football
- Head to head history suggests low scoring affairs with few clear cut chances
Conditions on the day could play a big part with the pitch expected to be firm and fast which might suit the visitors more. Key midfield battles will decide who controls the tempo and limits mistakes in the final third. Neither coach is likely to take big risks early on given what is at stake for their seasons.
Betting Proposal
After weighing up the current types and recent trends the smartest play looks to be a stalemate. The sides are evenly matched on paper and both have plenty to play for without wanting to overcommit. A low scoring draw feels the most probable outcome here given how defensively solid they have looked lately.
The types suggest a draw at 3.45
