Rayo Vallecano vs Villarreal Predictions & Match Preview

Rayo Vallecano vs Villarreal predictions and match preview for Sunday’s LaLiga fixture. Read on for analysis, team news and predicted lineups as Rayo play their final home game of the season.

Date	Sunday 28th May 2023
Kick-Off	19:00 (CEST)
Stadium	Vallecas
Competition	LaLiga

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Rayo Vallecano vs Villarreal Preview

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Rayo Vallecano and Villarreal face off in what should be one of the most entertaining games this weekend in LaLiga. Both sides like to commit players forwards and attack their opponents and both really need to target the three points here.

In truth, Rayo probably know their shot at European qualification is now gone, but they do still have a tiny mathematical chance of finishing 7th if they win their final two games. The margins have been fine in many of their games but it is three straight defeats heading into this with Rodrygo’s late goal denying them a point in midweek in the derby at the Santiago Bernabeu.

This may well be the final home game for several Rayo players with Santi Comesaña among those set to depart after the midfielder agreed terms with this weekend’s opponents Villarreal. The issue on the minds of everyone connected to Rayo though is the future of Andoni Iraola. The coach has reportedly been offered a new deal and there is no doubt that the club are keen for him to stay, but the 40 year old is yet to commit his future with the suspicion being this will most likely be his final home game.

Villarreal will be hungry to make sure it is a fourth straight defeat for Iraola and Rayo and the way they are playing, that is a real possibility. Quique Setien has firmly bedded himself into this job now after an unconvincing start, although it could also be a summer of major departures at the Ceramica with the likes of Pau Torres and in-form Nico Jackson potentially heading for the exit door.

Qualifying for the Champions League may make the summer transfer window a bit easier for Villarreal’s recruitment team but it’s looking like a distant dream, mostly because of Real Sociedad’s excellent form rather than any fault of their own. The Basques have a 5 points advantage on Villarrreal heading into the final two games meaning Setien’s men must win both of their remaining fixtures to stand any chance of playing UCL football in 2023/24.

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Team News & Possible Lineups

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Rayo Vallecano

Possible XI: Dimitrievski – Fran Garcia, Catena, Lejeune, Balliu – Comesana, Valentin – Alvaro Garcia, Unai Garcia, Isi – De Tomas (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Andoni Iraola

Villarreal

INJURED	Coquelin, Morales, Albiol
DOUBTFUL	Capoue, Foyth
BANNED

Possible XI: Reina – Pedraza, Torres, Mandi, Foyth – Lo Celso, Parejo, Capoue – Pino, Jackson, Gerard Moreno (4-3-3)

Coach: Quique Setien

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Score Prediction: Rayo Vallecano 2-3 Villarreal

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This ought to be a good game with chances for both teams but Villarreal are the form team with wins in 5 of their last 6 in LaLiga. Their attacking options are the envy of almost everyone in this league with Jackson scoring and creating goals while Gerard Moreno is fit again, potentially forcing the equally impressive Samu Chukwueze to only start this game on the bench.

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