Can Rayo Vallecano stop the Yellow Submarine?

Villarreal have had a good season in Spain so far and are very close to the Champions League places. With 31 points, they are only in 5th place because of the goal difference. After 12th place last year, Rayo Vallecano can convince again this year and is in 9th place. Due to the good home record, Villarreal is the favorite.

In recent years, the yellow submarine has rarely reached the table placement that was intended as a goal. Since the 2015/16 season, they haven't managed to get into the top 4 either. This year they seem to be closer to the top again for the first time, after all they are in 5th place in the table after 18 games. They are currently level on points with Atletico Madrid in 4th place. A win could let her climb to the all-important 4th place. But the opponent is anything but to be underestimated. Rayo Vallecano can also convince in the 2nd year in the Primera Division. The team has established itself in the upper half of the table and is only 2 points behind an international starting place.

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Villarreal analysis

The hosts have been among the teams competing for international places in the Spanish league for years. Most of the time they have managed to do this, after all they have always reached a top 7 place in the table in the last 3 years. But you always missed out on a Champions League place. The start of the season wasn't very successful this year either, which is why the decision was made to change coaches in October.

Things are going a lot better under Quique Setien, claiming 7 wins from their last 13 games. As expected, they also made it into the knockout phase in the Europa Conference League. Now you want to attack in the league and take a place in the Champions League. For that you need a win against Rayo Vallecano.

The start under the new coach Quique Setien did not go well, because in the first 4 games the team did not win and conceded 3 defeats. After that, however, they managed the turnaround and got 6 wins in a row. Among other things, they also defeated Real Madrid 2-1. However, they had to admit defeat against them in the Copa Del Rey last week. In Spain, the focus is therefore entirely on the league. There they won their last game against FC Girona 1-0. It was their fifth unbeaten game in a row , making Villarreal one of the most in-form teams in the league.

In the home table they are in second place behind FC Barcelona and thus ahead of Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. They are currently celebrating 3 home wins in a row.

Rayo Vallecano analysis

Rayo Vallecano only managed to get promoted to the Primera Division in the 2020/21 season. Before that, you worked in the Segunda Division for two years. Now you establish yourself relatively quickly in the middle of the top Spanish league. Already in the promotion year they reached a sensational 12th place and had nothing to do with relegation. In all probability they will be able to stay out of this this year as well, as they are in 9th place after 18 match days . Currently only 2 points separate them from an international starting place. A win against Villarreal would bring them within 2 points of them.

If you look at Vallecano's statistics, it quickly becomes clear that the team is hardly above average or bad. They have a slightly positive balance of 7 wins, 5 draws and 6 defeats, the same applies to the goal difference of 24:22 goals.However, the current form is slightly down, because they only won one game in the last 5 league games.

The team makes a pretty good impression when they play away. There they got at least 3 wins and 3 draws in 9 games. In the away table, this is enough for a very good 5th place, which puts you ahead of Villarreal or Betis Sevilla.

Villarreal - Rayo Vallecano: What to expect? 

Both teams are playing a very good season in the Spanish La Liga so far. Villarreal is in the Champions League places and Vallecano manages to re-establish itself in the middle of the table. 

The hosts are the 2nd strongest home team in the league, which is why we would propose a win for them. Most Villarreal games don't score that many goals, but we would still risk an over/under bet on over 2.5 goals. After all, the guests were able to score regularly in the last few games and the direct duels also speak for this betting market.

• Over 2.5
• Villarrealto win

* All odds and markets are correct at time of publication and subject to change.