Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Rayo Vallecanovs.Alaves

sportsmole.co.uk, 24 October 2024, 13:49
Alaves will be bidding to avoid a fifth straight defeat in La Liga when they head to Rayo Vallecano on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors are winless in Spain's top flight since September 20, with their disappointing run seeing them drop into 14th position in the La Liga table, while Rayo occupy ninth, boasting 13 points from their opening 10 matches of the campaign.

Match preview

Rayo boast a record of three wins, four draws and three defeats from their 10 La Liga matches this season, which has left them in ninth spot in the division on 13 points, two points behind seventh-placed Real Betis.

The capital side brought a five-game unbeaten run into their clash with Mallorca last weekend, but they were beaten 1-0 by Jagoba Arrasate's side, with Vedat Muriqi netting the only goal of the contest in the 76th minute.

Inigo Perez's side are unbeaten in their last three league games on home soil, though, including a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid, and they will be confident of overcoming an out-of-form Alaves outfit on Saturday afternoon.

Rayo, who finished in 17th position in Spain's top flight last term, recorded a 2-0 win in the corresponding match in 2023-24, but Alaves were 1-0 winners when the two sides last locked horns in March.

This game represents Rayo's final league fixture of the month, but their Copa del Rey journey for the 2024-25 campaign will begin on October 29 against Villamuriel.

Alaves enjoyed an impressive 2023-24 campaign after securing a return to the top flight through the Segunda Division playoffs, finishing in 10th spot in the La Liga table.

The Blue and Whites made a positive start to this season, but they have not managed to triumph in La Liga since September 20, losing each of their last four matches to Real Madrid, Getafe, Barcelona and Real Valladolid.

Luis Garcia's side were involved in a five-goal thriller with Real Valladolid last time out; Toni Martinez sent the Basque team ahead in the sixth minute, but Real Valladolid then scored three times without reply before Kike Garcia netted a late second for Alaves.

The visitors are currently 14th in the La Liga table, picking up 10 points from their 10 matches courtesy of a record of three wins, one draw and six defeats, and they will be determined to end their losing run this weekend.

Alaves have struggled defensively in the early stages of the campaign, conceding 18 times in their 10 matches, which is the joint-third worst defensive record in Spain's top flight this season alongside Villarreal.

Rayo Vallecano La Liga form:

W

D

D

D

W

L

Alaves La Liga form:

L

W

L

L

L

L

Team News

Rayo will be without the services of three players through injury this weekend, with Abdul Mumin, Alfonso Espino and Diego Mendez on the sidelines, but the capital side have not reported any fresh concerns.

There were positives to take from the narrow defeat at Mallorca last time out, so head coach Perez could ultimately decide to select close to the same XI on Saturday, with Isi Palazon again operating through the middle, but Aridane Hernandez should come in for the injured Mumin at the back.

Jorge de Frutos and Alvaro Garcia started in the wide areas against Mallorca, and that is expected to be the case here, with the likes of James Rodriguez and Oscar Valentin set to continue on the bench.

As for Alaves, Antonio Blanco is a doubt with a knee problem, while Hugo Novoa and Aleksandar Sedlar will not be available for selection on Saturday afternoon due to fitness issues.

The visitors will also have to work around the absences of Abdel Abqar and Kike Garcia, as the former picked up a milestone yellow card against Real Valladolid, while the latter was sent off in the same match.

Joan Jordan is expected to be the player to benefit if Blanco is ruled out, while Santiago Mourino is likely to be given the nod in the middle of the defence as a replacement for Abqar.

Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:

Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Hernandez, Balliu; De Frutos, U Lopez, Gumbau, A Garcia; Camello, Palazon

Alaves possible starting lineup:

Sivera; Tenaglia, Mourino, Diarra, Sanchez; Jordan, Guevara; Vicente, Guridi, Conechny; Martinez

We say: Rayo Vallecano 2-1 Alaves

Alaves showed positives against Real Valladolid last time out, but their defensive record is concerning, and Rayo have the players to hurt the visitors on Saturday; we are expecting an open and entertaining match, with Rayo likely to come out on top.

Previews by email

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together at the top of League C Group 1 with two games to play, Sweden and Slovakia will battle it out to take the outright lead when they meet on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal will reportedly allow out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior to leave the club on loan in January. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wales travel to the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri to face Turkey in their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre has not ruled out the possibility of leaving the club in January, after seeing his game time reduced recently. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to narrow their gap to the top two in the League One table with a third consecutive victory, Barnsley will visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Cambridge United on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has delivered a fresh update on his future at Newcastle United, amid reported interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma have confirmed the appointment of 73-year-old Claudio Ranieri as their new first-team manager until the end of the season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has revealed that he was "desperate" to join Chelsea in 2022. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could rival Manchester City and Liverpool for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up whether to make a move for in-form PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As exquisite as Pedro Neto's equaliser was, the Portuguese's 20-yard leveller for Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal was arguably more to do with the Gunners' uncharacteristic defensive failings. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly made a decision over whether they will pursue a move for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian has revealed that he will continue with his education even after completing a big-money transfer to Chelsea. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly going to give Real Sociedad "a long and hard winter" in their pursuit of midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Embroiled in a fight against relegation to the UEFA Nations League's lowest level, Azerbaijan and Estonia will clash in Qabala on Saturday afternoon. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England captain Harry Kane has reportedly emerged as a late doubt for Thursday's UEFA Nations League meeting with Greece due to a knock. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is expected to be given the all-clear for Saturday's all-important UEFA Nations League clash with Hungary in Amsterdam. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together on five points in League A Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League, the Netherlands and Hungary meet on Saturday in a winner-takes-all clash at the Johan Cruyff Arena. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both vying for promotion to the UEFA Nations League's top tier, Albania and League B Group 1 leaders Czech Republic will lock horns on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco has insisted that his club are not currently looking to bring in a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, with the striker in excellent form for the Catalan giants this season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega will be eyeing a debut for the Germany national team in Saturday's UEFA Nations League clash with Bosnia-Herzegovina in League A Group 3. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco is confident that the club will be able to sign Pedri to a new long-term contract. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Needing just a point to all but guarantee a first-placed finish in League A Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League, Germany welcome Bosnia-Herzegovina to the Europa-Park Stadion in Freiburg on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Christian Eriksen has revealed that he is 'yet to hear anything' from Manchester United over his future. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As closely contested League B Group 1 nears its conclusion, promotion - and relegation - rivals Georgia and Ukraine will meet in Batumi on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly considering making a move for Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Martin Baturina during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Kazakhstan vs. Austria (Thursday, 3.00pm) Amid a three-way battle for promotion from League B Group 3, Austria aim to improve their prospects with a win on Thursday, when they meet Kazakhstan in the UEFA Nations League. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Athletico Paranaense can temporarily climb out of the Brasileiro Serie A relegation zone with a victory over Atletico Mineiro on Saturday at Arena de Baixada.