Vallecano – Villarreal, Picks and Tips
Rayo is unbeaten in its last four league games. The club from Vallecas has achieved two wins in the same city during this period, each time by the same score: 1-0 vs Barcelona and Espanyol. Two draws followed, against Real Sociedad (1-1) and Getafe (0-0) respectively. This positive run followed one of 13 consecutive rounds in the Primera Division without success. With 35 games played this season, Andoni Iraola's side are in 12th place in LaLiga. They are just two points behind Valencia in 10th. There are no relegation worries, but there are no European Cup chances either.
On the other hand, the 'Yellow Submarine' was recently eliminated from the UEFA Champions League semi-finals after a 2-5 aggregate win over Liverpool. The double-header against the English was much more balanced than the scoreline shows, if we consider that at half-time at the Estadio de la Ceramica the Spaniards were leading 2-0 - exactly the result at Anfield. For Villarreal, the championship game against Sevilla followed, ending in a 1-1 draw. Giovani Lo Celso had opened the scoring for the 'galbeni' in the 86th minute, but Jules Kounde avoided defeat for the Andalusians in the fifth minute of extra time. The two points lost at the end of the weekend would have helped Unai Emery's boys enormously. They are currently in 7th place, just one 'length' above Bilbao and three below Real Sociedad.
Our recommendation tip for Vallecano – Villarreal: VILLARREAL TO WIN @ 1.85