The La Liga Round 18 clash between Rayo Vallecano and Getafe will take place on January 2 at the Campo de Vallecas in Madrid. Rayo Vallecano – Getafe: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Rayo Vallecano
Before a short break in the league, Rayo Vallecano suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat away to Elche. In that single Primera División game they conceded more goals than in the previous five rounds combined (2). The Madrid side's winless streak in La Liga has now reached seven matches (3 draws, 4 defeats). The primary issue is a dire lack of goals: Rayo have scored just one goal across those seven fixtures. After the trip to Elche, Rayo have gone three La Liga matches without scoring. In the table they have slipped to 15th, just three points above the relegation zone.
- This season in La Liga Rayo have scored a total of 13 goals — only Oviedo (7) have fewer.
- Seven of the club's last nine home matches in this competition have finished as draws.
- No more than two goals were scored in five of Rayo's last six La Liga games.
Predicted line-up Rayo Vallecano (4-2-3-1)
Augusto Batalla – Ivan Balliu, Florian Lejeune, Nobel Mendy, Pep Chavarria – Oscar Valentin, Unai Lopez – Isi Palazon, Alfonso Espino, Alvaro Garcia – Sergio Camello.
Defender Andrey Ratsyu has served a suspension. Midfielders Pape Cisse and Randy Nteka are unavailable due to AFCON duties. Defender Abdul Mumin and midfielder Jorge de Frutos are out injured.
Getafe
Like Rayo, Getafe were beaten 4-0 away in the last round, losing to Real Betis. That heavy defeat dropped Getafe to 11th in the table, eight points short of the European places. The loss in Seville was the team's fifth in six recent league outings. Notably, in all of those defeats José Bordalás' side failed to score. Overall, alongside their upcoming opponents, Getafe have also compiled just 13 goals so far this La Liga season.
- The team have conceded in 6 of their last 7 league matches.
- Getafe's uncompromising run in La Liga stretches to 10 matches (3 wins, 7 defeats).
- No more than two goals were scored in five of the club's last six matches in this competition.
Predicted line-up Getafe (5-3-2)
David Soria – Kiko Femenia, Juan Iglesias, Djené, Domingos Duarte, Allan Nyom – Mauro Arambarri, Mario Martin, Luis Milla – Adrian Liso, Borja Mayoral.
Defender Davinchi is unavailable due to injury.
Match Prediction: Rayo Vallecano vs Getafe
Both sides are approaching a crisis, primarily because of catastrophically low scoring. Getafe have lost five of their last six La Liga matches and failed to score in each of those defeats. Away from home they have lost six of their last seven Primera games, avoiding a ‘clean-sheet’ defeat in just one of those seven fixtures.
Rayo Vallecano have managed just one goal in their last seven league rounds. However, unlike Getafe, Rayo have been harder to beat thanks to a relatively solid defence. At least one team failed to score in 10 of Rayo's last 11 La Liga matches, yet Rayo lost only four of those 11. At home they have taken at least one point in 10 of their last 11 Primera meetings (2 wins, 8 draws).
Additionally, Rayo's run without defeat against Getafe in the league stretches to eight head-to-heads (3 wins, 5 draws), and both teams scored in only one of those eight matches. Prediction – 1X + Both teams to score – No
* Each team's starting line-up reflects their last match in this competition.
