Elche vs Rayo Vallecano Match Analysis and Prediction

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Rayo Vallecano will be making a trip on Friday to face Elche at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero for their La Liga clash.

The hosts are currently sitting 14th in the La Liga table, with 26 points from their 24 matches, two points above 17th-placed Granada and five points adrift of their Friday’s opponents.

Elche saw their last La Liga game ending in a 2-0 loss to Sevilla at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan last Friday, with Alejandro Gomez and Rafa Mir getting on the scoresheet for their team.

The hosts have recorded four wins, five draws and two losses in 11 La Liga matches at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero this season, which is a relatively good form to give them confidence heading into this contest.

The last time these two sides met in La Liga action, Rayo Vallecano took a 2-1 victory at Estadio de Vallecas back in October. Mario Hernandez and Randy Nteka netted for Rayo while Lucas Boye scored the only goal for Elche at the 14th minute.

Rayo Vallecano are heading into this contest sitting 11th in the La Liga standings on 31 points from 23 games, seven points behind 6th-placed Real Sociedad for a spot in the Conference League Qualifiers, and have one game in hand over their Friday’s opponents.

In their last La Liga match, Rayo Vallecano went down to a 3-0 defeat against Osasuna at Estadio de Vallecas, with Moncayola, Ruben Garcia and Kike all scoring to secure all the three points for the visitors.

Alvaro Garcia, Radamel Falcao and Sergi Guardiola have been Rayo Vallecano’s leading players this season, scoring five, five and three goals respectively.

Vallecano will be aiming to address a poor run of results away from Estadio de Vallecas this season, with just one win, two draws and eight losses in league away matches.

Elche vs Rayo Vallecano head to head

The two sides have previously met on 20 occasions across all competitions, where Elche have taken 13 victories while Vallecano have won in 3, and they have drawn in 4. Elche have scored 33 goals and conceded 23. In their last five meetings, Elche have won once, Vallecano two with two draws.

Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Elche 21/01/17

Elche 1-1 Rayo Vallecano 05/10/19

Rayo Vallecano 2-3 Elche 08/03/20

Rayo Vallecano 2-0 Elche 17/01/21

Rayo Vallecano 2-1 Elche 17/10/21

Elche latest home form

Elche have recently been on a relatively good form at home, as they have lost just one of their five most recent matches. They lost 2-1 to Real Madrid after extra time in the Copa del Rey. In their last five matches, they have won three, drawn one and lost one.

Elche 3-1 Cadiz 05/12/21

Elche 0-0 Granada 02/01/22

Elche 1-0 Villarreal 16/01/22

Elche 1-2(E) Real Madrid 20/01/22

Elche 3-1 Alaves 05/02/22

Elche latest away form

Elche lost their last league away game 2-0 to Sevilla, which could be a downward turn of form after having been unbeaten in three matches prior to that. They recently defeated Almeria 2-1 in the Copa del Rey. In their last five matches, they have scored 8 goals and conceded 9.

Barcelona 3-2 Elche 18/12/21

Almeria 1-2 Elche 06/01/22

Espanyol 1-2 Elche 10/01/22

Real Madrid 2-2 Elche 23/01/22

Sevilla 2-0 Elche 11/02/22

Rayo Vallecano latest home form

Vallecano have recently been on a poor form at home, having lost three of their five most recent matches, and they lost their last two. They recently lost 2-1 to Real Betis in the Copa del Rey. In their last five matches, they have scored 3 goals and conceded 7.

Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Real Betis 09/01/22

Rayo Vallecano 0-1 Athletic Bilbao 23/01/22

Rayo Vallecano 1-0 Mallorca 02/02/22

Rayo Vallecano 1-2 Real Betis 09/02/22

Rayo Vallecano 0-3 Osasuna 12/02/22

Rayo Vallecano latest away form

Despite losing their last league away game 2-0 to Celta Vigo, Vallecano have recently been on a relatively good form on the road, having won two matches prior to that. They recently defeated Girona 2-1 in the Copa del Rey. In their last five matches, they have scored 6 goals and conceded 6.

Bergantinos 1-3 Rayo Vallecano 15/12/21

Atletico Madrid 2-0 Rayo Vallecano 02/01/22

Mirandes 0-1 Rayo Vallecano 05/01/22

Girona 1-2 Rayo Vallecano 15/01/22

Celta Vigo 2-0 Rayo Vallecano 05/02/22

Elche news

Despite losing to Sevilla last Friday, Elche are likely to retain the same starting lineup, with Pere Milla likely to start again.

However, Lucas Boye is likely to be absent for a few weeks due to a muscle injury, while Helibelton Palacios will stay sidelined until early March with a hamstring injury.

Rayo Vallecano news

Having tested positive for COVID-19, midfielder Jose Pozo will remain in isolation for a few weeks until he is declared fit to return to the squad.

Meanwhile, his fellow midfielder Unai Lopez Cabrera will stay out until late February with a hip injury, while Martin Merquelanz is absent with a sprained knee.