Villarreal vs Rayo Vallecano

Estadio de la Ceramica forms the backdrop for a handsomely-looking La Liga encounter between Villarreal and Rayo Vallecano.

Villarreal’s late push for the European spots is in full swing after Alexander Sorloth’s stoppage-time winner in a 2-1 triumph at Almeria last weekend catapulted Marcelino’s side within a six-point distance of seventh-placed Real Betis. With six games to go, ‘El Submarino Amarillo’ have secured a fighting chance and will be looking to maintain a superb run of five wins from their last seven league outings (D1, L1). However, playing Vallecano brings back painful memories, with a 1-1 draw in September’s reverse fixture extending their winless H2H streak to three matches (D1, L2). Despite going down 2-1 at the hands of Atletico Madrid in their most recent home league game, the hosts have fared reasonably well at La Ceramica, as that’s their only loss across their last eight home contests in all competitions (W4, D3).

On the other hand, Rayo Vallecano maintained their uptick in form with a come-from-behind 2-1 home win against Osasuna last weekend, stretching their unbeaten league run to four matches (W2, D2). But Inigo Perez’s troops have stuttered on the road since winning their first away league game of 2024 against Getafe, losing four of their last six such fixtures (D2) while failing to get on the scoresheet four times in the process. Three consecutive scoring blanks on hostile turf paint a bleak picture in the build-up to this as the visitors bid to win back-to-back away league meetings with Villarreal for the first time in the 21st century following a narrow 1-0 victory in this corresponding match-up last term.