Valencia will host Rayo Vallecano on Monday night to bring the La Liga weekend to a close. Los Che are 18th in the La Liga standings and staring relegation in the face.
The team lost four of its last six games and desperately need to defeat eighth-place Rayo Vallecano on Monday night.
🙌🏽 4 days to be back at 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮 🙌🏽🔜 #ValenciaRayo pic.twitter.com/y5DFnuSZvL— Valencia CF (@valenciacf_en) March 30, 2023
🙌🏽 4 days to be back at 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮 🙌🏽🔜 #ValenciaRayo pic.twitter.com/y5DFnuSZvL
Rayo saw four draws from their last six games. Although the Red Sashes went winless across those six games, they picked up four points and remain in the top half of the table.
European qualification has slipped from Rayo’s grasp. The Red Sashes are five points off sixth-place Villarreal in the race for the final European qualification place.
Rayo Vallecano are unbeaten in four straight matches against Valencia. Two of the four matches ended as 1-1 draws. Meanwhile, three of the four games finished with both teams scoring goals.
In the reverse fixture this season, Rayo Vallecano won 2-1 at home. Isi Palazon opened the scoring in the fifth minute for Rayo and Valencia’s Nico Gonzalez scored an own goal just after halftime to put the Red Sashes up 2-0. Valencia’s Mouctar Diakhaby scored a consolation goal in the 90th minute.
Rayo Vallecano are far from in form. The Red Sashes failed to win any of their last six games, picking up four points courtesy of four draws. They were outscored 8-4 in the last six games.
The Red Sashes have a 4W-4D-5L record on the road this season with a –3-goal difference. They failed to win any of their last three matches on the road in La Liga.
Valencia did slightly better. The appointment of manager Ruben Baraja, a former player, has helped improve results along with fan relations.
Los Che took six points from the last six games. They have a fighting chance to get out of the relegation zone. However, Valencia do not score enough goals to win games. They tallied a mere three goals in the last six matches.
Valencia do play better at home than on the road. They are on a two-game winning streak at Mestalla, and the home crowd could help them get a result versus Vallecano.
Vallecano reported no fresh injuries for the fixture coming out of the international break. However, Valencia could be without four players. Defenders Antonio Latorre and Gabriel Paulista are both doubts to make the squad.
Forward Marcos de Sousa has an ankle injury and may not play. Goalkeeper Jaume Domenech is out with an ACL injury.
Rayo played well against Valencia across their last four meetings. The Red Sashes should get a result, but Valencia will be helped by playing at home. Monday’s match should finish 1-1 at the Mestalla.