Rayo Vallecano will be desperate for three points when they travel to RCDE Stadium to take on Espanyol in their La Liga Matchday 33 fixture on Wednesday night with kickoff at 20:00.
Espanyol have made an inconsistent campaign this season with the side recording 10 wins, nine draws and 13 defeats from 32 matches so far to collect 39 points, which have left them sitting mid-table in 12th level on points with 11th-placed Celta Vigo.
With six matches remaining, Espanyol have well avoided a relegation battle as they sit 10 points from the drop zone, although they have also missed out on the European spots as 16 points separate them and the sixth-placed Real Sociedad.
They however time to fight for top-half finish as they are only three points adrift of the 10th-placed Valencia and victory on Wednesday could leave them 10th. Therefore, they will be looking to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat to Atletico as they hope to break into the top-half.
Meanwhile Rayo Vallecano have struggled this season with the club claiming only nine wins from their 31 matches, while they have picked up seven draws and suffered 15 defeats in the process. They continued their poor run last tie out as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Alaves at away in La Liga, and they have now gone winless in their last 12 matches across all competitions while have failed now failed to win in their last 13 league matches.
The run has seen then drop down into 14th spot in the standings where they sit on 34 points from 31 matches, only five points above the relegation zone. With the league on its final straight Vallecano cannot afford any more slip-ups if they are to avoid a last-minute relegation scrap, which looks imminent if they record a couple of more poor results.
On the positive the capital club has had the edge against the Catalans as they have won all their last four meetings against Espanyol, including the 1-0 in the reverse fixture earlier this season. Therefore, Vallecano should be confident of being able to bounce back here.
Espanyol vs Vallecano head to head
Both sides have met in 30 encounters since 1995 with Espanyol claiming 13 victories, while Vallecano have claimed nine victories and there have been eight draws.
- Vallecano 1-0 Espanyol 05/12/21
- Espanyol 0-2 Vallecano 24/07/21
- Espanyol 2-3 Vallecano 31/01/21
- Vallecano 1-0 Espanyol 18/10/20
- Espanyol 2-1 Vallecano 09/02/19
Home
- Atletico 2-1 Espanyol
- Espanyol 1-0 Celta Vigo
- Real Sociedad 1-0 Espanyol
- Espanyol 1-0 Mallorca
- Levante 1-1 Espanyol
Away
- Alaves 1-0 Vallecano
- Vallecano 1-1 Valencia
- Granada 2-2 Vallecano
- Vallecano 0-1 Atletico
- Vallecano 1-1 Sevilla
Espanyol team news
Espanyol have a fully fit squad with the return of Yangel Herrera from suspension.
Vallecano team news
Vallecano will be without Radamel Falcao, Ariel Saveljich and Martin Merquelanz due to injuries, while Ivan Balliu is suspended.
Prediction and odds
- Draw
- Double chance
- Both sides to score
