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

The visitors, who have drawn their last four in the league, are currently 19th in the table on seven points, while Rayo occupy 10th position, having claimed 12 points from their opening 10 games of the season.

Match preview

Rayo have not been victorious in La Liga since the start of the month, when they recorded a 2-1 win over Elche, taking just two points from their last three matches.

Andoni Iraola's side have made a solid start to the campaign, though, boasting a record of three wins, three draws and four defeats from their 10 matches, which has seen them collect 12 points to sit in 10th position.

Rayo will also enter this match off the back of an impressive result, having held Atletico Madrid to a 1-1 draw at Wanda Metropolitano last weekend, with experienced forward Radamel Falcao netting a last-gasp equaliser against Diego Simeone's side.

Los Franjirrojos finished 12th in La Liga last season on their return to the top level, and they are bidding to make it successive campaigns in Spain's highest league for the first time since 2016.

Rayo recorded a 3-1 win over Cadiz in the corresponding match last season, but they suffered a 2-0 defeat when they made the trip to the Pirates for the reverse fixture at Nuevo Mirandilla.

Cadiz, meanwhile, have finished 12th and 17th in La Liga since earning promotion from the Segunda Division in 2020, and they only just survived the drop last term, ending the season just one point above 18th.

El Submarino Amarillo are currently 19th in the table, having picked up just seven points from their first 10 matches, but they will bring a five-game unbeaten run into this contest.

Indeed, since the 4-0 loss at home to Cadiz on September 10, Cadiz have beaten Real Valladolid, in addition to drawing with Villarreal, Espanyol, Girona and Real Betis.

Sergio Gonzalez's side have been a tough nut to crack in recent weeks, but they have some difficult games before the season breaks for the World Cup, facing Atletico Madrid at home and Real Madrid at Bernabeu.

Cadiz will be inactive between November 11 and December 29 due to the World Cup, and they will be hoping to move out of the relegation zone by the time that the season breaks.

Rayo Vallecano La Liga form:

W

L

W

L

D

D

Cadiz La Liga form:

L

W

D

D

D

D

Team News

Rayo are again expected to be without the services of Oscar Trejo due to a foot injury, while a shoulder problem is also likely to rule Andres Martin out of the contest.

Raul de Tomas is also out, as the forward is not able to represent the club until January due to his arrival from Espanyol past the summer transfer deadline.

Head coach Iraola is expected to keep faith with the majority of the side that started against Atletico last time out, with Falcao again set to get the nod over Sergio Camello in the final third of the field, but there could be a change in midfield, with Santi Comesana potentially replacing Jose Angel Pozo.

As for Cadiz, Joseba Zaldua will be missing with the knee injury that he picked up in the goalless draw with Real Betis, which could see Isaac Carcelen come into the starting side.

Ruben Alcaraz is also expected to come into the XI in central midfield, but it might otherwise be the same side that started the goalless draw with Real Betis.

Anthony Lozano and Lucas Perez should feature as the front two, leaving Alvaro Negredo on the bench.

David Gil, Alvaro Gimenez, Jon Garrido and Ivan Alejo all missed out against Real Betis through injury, and the quartet are also expected to be unavailable for selection here.

Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:

Dimitrievski; Balliu, Mumin, Catena, F Garcia; Valentin, Ciss; Palazon, Comesana, A Garcia; Falcao

Cadiz possible starting lineup:

Ledesma; Carcelen, Jimenez, Mbaye, Arzamendia; Bongonda, Alcaraz, Alex, Ocampo; Lozano, Perez

We say: Rayo Vallecano 2-1 Cadiz

This has all of the makings of a very interesting match, and we are expecting it to be a close affair. Cadiz are not losing games at the moment, but Rayo will have been boosted by their excellent result against Atletico, and we are backing the home team to run out 2-1 winners here.

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