BrightonBrighton & Hove Albionvs.Rayo Vallecano

The Seagulls will begin their Premier League season at home to newly-promoted Luton Town on August 12, while Rayo will start their La Liga campaign away to Algeria on August 11.

Match preview

Brighton enjoyed an excellent 2022-23 Premier League season, finishing sixth in the table, which proved to be their highest-ever position in the top flight, and they will play in the 2023-24 Europa League.

Alexis Mac Allister has been their major departure this summer, with the Argentina international joining Liverpool, but the club have thus far been able to keep hold of Moises Caicedo, who is set to remain at the Amex unless an offer in the region of £100m is submitted.

Brighton have also been very active in terms of incomings, with Joao Pedro, Bart Verbruggen, Igor, Adrian Mazilu, Mahmoud Dahoud and James Milner arriving at the club.

The Seagulls have only actually played three friendlies this summer, with all of the matches taking place in the United States in the Premier League Summer Series, losing 4-3 to Chelsea and 2-1 to Newcastle United, but they did record a 2-0 victory over Brentford towards the end of July.

This weekend's contest will represent Brighton's final friendly of the summer, with their Premier League campaign starting on August 12 at home to newly-promoted Luton.

It has been a summer of change for Rayo, meanwhile, with their head coach Andoni Iraola leaving to take charge of Bournemouth, and Francisco is now the man in charge at Campo de Futbol de Vallecas.

There have also been a number of departures in terms of players, with Fran Garcia returning to Real Madrid, while Alejandro Catena, Santi Comesana and Mario Hernandez are among those to have exited.

There have only been three incomings thus far, with Florian Lejeune, Alfonso Espino and Aridane Hernandez arriving, and it would be fair to say that work is still needed on their squad before the end of the transfer window in order to be ready for the 2023-24 campaign.

Rayo have played four friendlies this summer, and they will enter this match off the back of a 3-2 loss to fellow Spanish outfit Real Valladolid on Wednesday.

A successful 2022-23 campaign saw Los Franjirrojos finish 11th in the La Liga table, just four points behind seventh-placed Osasuna, but it will be difficult for them to repeat that success in the coming season.

Brighton & Hove Albion friendly form:

L

W

L

Rayo Vallecano friendly form:

Team News

Brighton are expecting to keep hold of Caicedo this summer, with the club holding firm on their £100m valuation, and the in-demand midfielder is expected to be involved in this weekend's contest.

There could also be a debut for Igor following his arrival from Fiorentina, while Dahoud, Kaoru Mitoma, Facundo Buonanotte and Danny Welbeck are also expected to be in the side against Rayo.

Lewis Dunk, Milner and Solly March remain fitness doubts for Brighton, but head coach Roberto De Zerbi hopes to have all three players available for the first match of the new Premier League campaign.

Rayo, meanwhile, are expected to have their three new signings in their starting side for this match, with Lejeune, Espino and Hernandez all in line to feature at the back.

Randy Nteka could also be given the opportunity to impress, having returned from a loan spell at Elche, while experienced forward Radamel Falcao will hope to be involved at some stage of the contest.

Raul de Tomas only managed four league goals during an underwhelming 2022-23 campaign at Rayo, but the 28-year-old is set to be the starting centre-forward this term and will be bidding to make an impression against Brighton.

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:

Steele; Gross, Veltman, Van Hecke, Estupinan; Caicedo, Dahoud; Buonanotte, Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck

Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:

Dimitrievski; Balliu, Lejeune, Aridane, Espino; Valentin, Ciss, U Lopez; Salvi, De Tomas, Nteka

We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Rayo Vallecano

Rayo demonstrated their qualities last season, and although there have been some key departures this summer, the team's core values will always remain. The Spanish outfit should provide competitive opposition for Brighton on Sunday, but we are expecting the talented hosts to secure the victory in their final pre-season match.

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