Preview: Girona vs. Rayo Vallecano - prediction, team news, lineups

The home team are currently 13th in the table, boasting 16 points from their opening 14 matches, while Rayo occupy eighth position, having picked up 22 points during a strong start.

Match preview

Girona secured a return to Spain's top flight through the Segunda Division playoffs last term, and they are competing in La Liga for the just the third season in their history.

Michel's side have made a solid start to the 2022-23 campaign, picking up 16 points from their opening 14 matches of the season, which has left them in 13th position in the table.

Girona were last in league action on November 8, recording a 2-1 victory over Elche, which stretched their unbeaten run in Spain's top flight to four matches.

The White and Reds were back in competitive action against Cacereno in the Copa del Rey on December 22, though, suffering a 2-1 defeat to exit the competition.

Girona only have La Liga to think about between now and the end of the campaign, and this will be their first top-flight contest with Rayo since March 2019, with Girona winning both La Liga fixtures between the two sides during the 2018-19 campaign, including a 2-1 victory in the corresponding fixture.

Rayo, meanwhile, were also in Copa del Rey action on December 21, but they managed to progress to the next round of the competition by beating Saguntino on penalties following a goalless draw.

The capital outfit will be back in cup action against Sporting Gijon on January 3, but their immediate attention is on La Liga, as they prepare to resume their campaign on Thursday afternoon.

Rayo drew 0-0 with Celta Vigo in their last league match on November 10, which made it six games unbeaten in Spain's top flight, while they have taken 10 points from their last four games in the league.

A total of 22 points from 14 matches has left Andoni Iraola's side in eighth position in the table, just two points behind fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao, while they are already 11 points clear of the relegation zone.

Los Franjirrojos finished 12th in La Liga on their return to the top flight last term, but they have not claimed a top-half spot since 2012-13, when the team finished the campaign in eighth position.

Girona La Liga form:

D

L

D

D

W

W

Girona form (all competitions):

D

D

W

W

L

L

Rayo Vallecano La Liga form:

D

D

W

W

W

D

Rayo Vallecano form (all competitions):

W

W

W

D

L

W

Team News

Girona will be missing both Javi Hernandez and Juanpe through injury, with the former out with a thigh problem, while the latter is on the sidelines with a heel issue.

Head coach Michel could select close to the same XI that took to the field for the 2-1 victory over Elche in the league before the campaign was halted for the World Cup.

Oriol Romeu is a certainty in the middle of midfield, while Toni Villa and Yangel Herrera should also be in the starting team alongside Valentin Castellanos, who has three league goals to his name this term.

Rayo will again be missing Ruben de Tomas due to a tendon injury, but the visitors are otherwise in good shape heading into Thursday's contest.

Head coach Iraola will make wholesale changes to the side that started in the Copa del Rey last time out, with the likes of Fran Garcia, Isi Palazon, Radamel Falcao, Unai Lopez, Florian Lejeune and Ivan Balliu all set to return.

Stole Dimitrievski will also be back between the sticks, but Santi Comesana should keep his spot in the middle of midfield for the visitors.

Girona possible starting lineup:

Gazzaniga; Martinez, Bueno, D Lopez, Espinosa; Villa, Herrera, Romeu, A Garcia, Valery; Castellanos

Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:

Dimitrievski; Balliu, Lejeune, Catena, F Garcia; Comesana, Valentin; Palazon, U Lopez, A Garcia; Falcao

We say: Girona 1-1 Rayo Vallecano

Both of these sides have enjoyed solid starts to the campaign, and we are expecting a close match on Thursday afternoon. Rayo will be eyeing their seventh league victory of the season, but Girona are unbeaten in their last four league matches, and we are predicting a low-scoring draw here.

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