Atletico Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano Match Analysis and Prediction

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Atletico Madrid will be hosting Rayo Vallecano at Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday, looking to avaoid a fifth straight La Liga defeat.

The reigning champions are currently sitting fifth in the table, 17 points behin leaders Real Madrid, while Rayo have collected 30 points from their 18 matches this season to sit fourth.

Atletico’s disappointing performance in December has ended their title hopes, with four straight defeats to Mallorca, Real Madrid, Sevilla and Granada leaving them well off the pace of the top of the division.

A total of 29 points from 18 matches has seen them sit fifth in the table, 17 points behind leaders Real Madrid.

Much of their recent success has been built on a strong defence, but they have already conceded 22 league goals this season, and it is a real concern that they have not picked up a point in December.

They have won just one of their last seven away league matches, but they have again largely been strong in front of their own supporters this season.

Meanwhile, Rayo Vallecano wished for this match to be postponed due to severe coronavirus outbreak in the squad, but the fixture is going ahead as planned at the moment.

They have enjoyed a remarkable season so far, with a record of nine wins, three draws and six defeats from 18 matches collecting 30 points, which has left them fourth in the table, one point ahead of Atletico.

The Vallecans have also managed to progress in the Copa del Rey, with the club set to face Mirandes in the next round of the competition on January 5, and the squad should soon be boosted by the return of the majority of those with coronavirus-related issues.

They had secured a return to this level by advancing through the Segunda Division playoffs last season.

Atletico Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano head to head

The two Spanish clubs have previously met on 24 occasions, where Atletico have taken 15 victories while Vallecano have 4, and they have drawn in 5. Atletico have scored 42 goals and conceded 19. Atletico have won in four of their last five encounters, and they have drawn in one.

Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Atletico Madrid 07/01/16

Atletico Madrid 3-0 Rayo Vallecano 14/01/16

Atletico Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano 30/04/16

Atletico Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano 25/08/18

Rayo Vallecano 0-1 Atletico Madrid 16/02/19

Atletico Madrid latest home form

Atletico lost their last two home games, 1-0 to AC Milan in the Champions League and 2-1 to Mallorca in the league. Their last home victory came on November 20 when they defeated Osasuna 1-0. In their last five, they have won two, drawn one and lost two in the process.

Atletico Madrid 2-2 Real Sociedad 24/10/21

Atletico Madrid 3-0 Real Betis 31/10/21

Atletico Madrid 1-0 Osasuna 20/11/21

Atletico Madrid 0-1 AC Milan 24/11/21

Atletico Madrid 1-2 Mallorca 04/12/21

Atletico Madrid latest away form

Atletico have most recently been on a poor run of form on the road, as they have lost succesively in their three most recent away matches, to Real Madrid, Sevilla and Granada. They have won two of their last five, including a 3-1 victory over Porto in the Champions League.

Cadiz 1-4 Atletico Madrid 28/11/21

Porto 1-3 Atletico Madrid 07/12/21

Real Madrid 2-0 Atletico Madrid 12/12/21

Sevilla 2-1 Atletico Madrid 18/12/21

Granada 2-1 Atletico Madrid 22/12/21

Rayo Vallecano latest home form

Rayo Vallecano have recently been on a good run of form at home, having not lost in any of their last nine matches in La Liga. In their five most recent home matches, they have won four and drawn one, scoring 7 goals and conceding just two in the process.

Rayo Vallecano 1-0 Barcelona 27/10/21

Rayo Vallecano 0-0 Celta Vigo 01/11/21

Rayo Vallecano 3-1 Mallorca 22/11/21

Rayo Vallecano 1-0 Espanyol 05/12/21

Rayo Vallecano 2-0 Alaves 18/12/21

Rayo Vallecano latest away form

Rayo Vallecano have recently won two matches in the Copa del Rey, 3-1 against Bergantinos and through penalty shootouts after a 1-1 draw with Guijuelo. However, they have not won in any of their three most recent La Liga matches, losing to Real Madrid and Villarreal and drawing with Valencia.

Real Madrid 2-1 Rayo Vallecano 06/11/21

Valencia 1-1 Rayo Vallecano 27/11/21

Guijuelo 1-1(P) Rayo Vallecano 02/12/21

Villarreal 2-0 Rayo Vallecano 12/12/21

Bergantinos 1-3 Rayo Vallecano 15/12/21

Atletico Madrid news

Marcos Llorente and Stefan Savic will again be missing for Atletico through injury, while Jose Gimenez and Sime Vrsaljiko were both back in first team training on Friday.

Joao Felix, Hector Herrera, Koke and Antoine Griezmann have tested positive for the coronavirus, while Simeone will also miss out having contracted the virus.

Rayo Vallecano news

Rayo Vallecano have a number of players who tested positive for coronavirus, while Martin Merquelanz and Alvaro Garcia will miss out due to knee and hamstring issues respectively.

Radamel Falcao will miss out following a positive Covid-19 test, but Sergi Guardiola is among those who have a chance of returning.

Prediction and Odds

Rayo are likely to be without a number of important players this weekend, which will be a blow to them.

Atletico head into this match with much need of a victory that could end the poor run of form, and they could take advantage of their opponents absences to win the game.

Odds: 1 2.21 X 2.60 2 2.85