Rayo Vallecano are safe from relegation and will play La Liga football once more next season. The Red Sashes are unbeaten in four straight matches with three games left to play.
Villarreal are winless in two straight fixtures in La Liga ahead of Thursday’s clash with Rayo Vallecano. The Yellow Submarine have struggled after being eliminated from the Champions League semifinals by Liverpool.
🙌 @DaniParejo 🙌 pic.twitter.com/VkTLtAfvoo— Villarreal CF (@VillarrealCF) May 10, 2022
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Unai Emery’s team is seventh in the standings and five points off of fifth-place Real Betis. Villarreal are fighting for a European place. As it stands, it looks like they could make the Europa Conference League for next term.
Rayo Vallecano are out of the running for the European places. They are finishing the campaign on a high note, however. The Red Sashes took nine points from the last 18 points on offer in the division.
The problem for Rayo Vallecano has been goalscoring. They tallied a mere four goals in the last six matches in the division. Rayo Vallecano conceded three times in the last six matches in La Liga. Rayo Vallecano drew nil-nil with Getafe at the weekend.
Villarreal took eight points from the last six games. They took struggled for goals with just seven scored and seven conceded in the last six matches in La Liga. The Yellow Submarine drew 1-1 with Sevilla last time out.
The Yellow Submarine have a strong head-to-head record versus Rayo Vallecano. Villarreal have a record of 4W-1D-1L in the last six matches with Rayo Vallecano.
In the reverse fixture, Villarreal won 2-0 which was the teams’ third straight victory over the Red Sashes in all competitions.
Rayo Vallecano’s Pathe Ciss is suspended for the fixture and will miss the game. Forward Isi Palazon is ruled out with a shoulder injury.
Defender Ariel Saveljich has a hamstring injury. It could lead to Saveljich missing the match. Forward Martin Merquelanz is a doubt with a sprain knee.
Emery could be without forward Gerard Moreno for the fixture. Moreno is still nursing a thigh injury. Defender Alberto Moreno is recovering from a hamstring injury and will miss the game.
Villarreal have drawn 11 of their 35 matches in La Liga this season. On Thursday night, they will secure another draw against Rayo Vallecano. The Red Sashes have drawn back-to-back La Liga games and should do it once more.
Thursday’s match should finish 2-2 as both teams get onto the scoresheet with more than 3.5 goals scored.