Rayo Vallecano vs Sevilla

Sevilla’s hopes of lifting their first La Liga title in over 70 years are hanging by a thread as they head to the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas to take on out-of-form Rayo Vallecano.

It has been a thoroughly disappointing start to the new calendar year for Rayo Vallecano, who are winless in all eight La Liga matches in 2022 (D1, L7), losing each of the last six on the trot. Another defeat would see Vallecano equal their worst-ever losing run in La Liga (7), and their all-time top-flight record against Sevilla doesn’t look promising. ‘Los Franjirrojos’ have faced the Andalusians 13 times in La Liga since the 2013/14 season without picking up a single win (D2, L9), conceding 2+ goals in each of their last six league H2Hs. After shipping over 1.5 goals in four of their five top-flight outings in the build-up to this fixture, Andoni Iraola’s men must be feeling like a doomed side already.

Meanwhile, Sevilla eked out an all-important 1-0 home win over West Ham in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie in midweek, stretching their unbeaten run across all competitions to three games (W2, D1). But despite going unbeaten in their last 13 La Liga matches (W7, D6), ‘Los Rojiblancos’ have drawn five of their last seven league fixtures (W2), four of which featured under 2.5 goals. Julen Lopetegui’s men have conceded a league-low 18 goals this La Liga season, their best-ever defensive tally after 27 league games. Adding to Sevilla’s confidence, they have racked up three victories across their last four La Liga visits to Vallecano (D1), two of which yielded the same 1-0 scoreline. Yet, they’ve won only 50% of their last eight top-flight visits to Madrilean sides (D2, L2), as many triumphs as they had across their previous 22 such match-ups (W4, D5, L13).