La Liga returns to the fold this weekend when Rayo Vallecano welcome Alaves to the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas for the 18th round of the campaign. This exciting fixture schedules for 18th December 2021 at 16:00 EAT.
Last year’s Segunda División champions Rayo Vallecano get a chance to climb in to the top four this weekend. Rayo Vallecano’s home form is the main reason why they are sitting in sixth place with 29 points after 17 matches, having won seven and drawn one of their eight matches on their own patch in Madrid.
Coming into this game Rayo Vallecano secred after a 1-3 Copa Del Rey triumph against Bergantiños in their previous outing. In that fixture, Rayo Vallecano had 52% possession, 15 shots with eight of them on target and goals scored by Mario Suárez (37′), Pathé Ismaël Ciss (67′) and Sergio Moreno (90′). Bergantiños got 13 shots with four on target.
On the other hand Deportivo Alaves will be looking to return to their winning ways coming off the four game winless run which sees them just two points above the relegation zone. One of the major struggles for the visitors this season has been scoring; they have only scored 13 times in 16 matches, recording the second lowest tally in La Liga this year.
In their previous game against Linares in Copa Del Rey competition, Alaves lost 1-2 and they will be hoping bounce back here. In that match, Alaves had 57% possession, 14 shots with four of them on target and a goal scored by Mamadou Sylla (67′). Linares got attempts with nine on target.
Four out the previous six meetings between these two teams have ended with goals over 2.5 and we expect the same results at the end of this match considering that Rayo Vallecano averaged 2.47 goals per game this season in La Liga, while Alaves averaged 2.19 goals per game so far in the league.
Rayo Vallecano vs Alaves head to head
Since 1997 these two teams have 16 meetings against each other. Alaves has seven wins, Rayo Vallecano six wins and there have been three stalemates.
- Alaves 0-1 Vallecano 28/01/19
- Vallecano 1-5 Alaves 22/09/18
- Alaves 0-2 Vallecano 15/02/09
- Vallecano 2-1 Alaves 13/09/08
- Alaves 3-0 Vallecano 16/05/04
Home
- Bergantinos 1-3 Vallecano
- Villarreal 2-0 Vallecano
- Vallecano 1-0 Espanyol
- Guijuelo 3-4 Vallecano
- Valencia 1-1 Vallecano
Away
- Linares 2-1 Alaves
- Alaves 1-1 Getafe
- Granada 2-1 Alaves
- Unami Cp 0-3 Alaves
- Alaves 1-2 Celta Vigo
Rayo Vallecano team news
Los Franjirrojos will miss out the services of Martín Merquelanz, Ivan Arboleda and Radamel Falcao who are on the sidelines due to injuries.
Alaves team news
For the visiting side Ximo Navarro and Tomas Pina have been ruled out of this game with injuries.
Prediction and odds
We predict a win for the home side given that their excellent home form and the the fact that the opponents Alaves have the second-worst attacking record in La Liga this season.
- Rayo Vallecano Win
- Goals over 2.5
- Draw