Match Introduction

The 5th round clash between Rayo Vallecano and Celta is scheduled to take place on September 21 at the “Campo de Vallecas” stadium in Madrid. This preview offers an in-depth look at the upcoming game, including team form, statistical analysis, and a betting recommendation.

Rayo Vallecano’s Season So Far

The Madrid side has managed only one victory to date, which occurred in their opening match against Girona (3:1). Subsequently, they encountered strong opposition, accumulating a mere single point from their last three fixtures. A notable achievement was a 1:1 draw with Barcelona. In their two other away games, Iñigo Pérez’s squad suffered defeats to Athletic Bilbao (0:1) and Osasuna (0:2). With 4 points, the club currently occupies 13th place in the league standings.

Key Statistics for Rayo Vallecano

• Rayo Vallecano has remained undefeated in 7 of their previous 9 Primera División encounters (4 wins and 3 draws).
• In 7 of their last 10 home league matches, fewer than three goals were scored.
• A draw has been the outcome in 6 of the team’s last 8 home games in .

Rayo Vallecano’s Predicted Lineup

Augusto Batalla – Florian Lejeune, Andrei Rațiu, Luis Felipe, Pep Chavarría – Pathé Ciss, Isi Palazón, Pedro Díaz, Unai López, Álvaro García – Jorge de Frutos.

Celta’s Current League Performance

Claudio Giráldez’s team is still searching for their inaugural victory in the current championship. They began the season with a 0:2 home loss to Getafe, followed by a sequence of four consecutive draws, all finishing 1:1. In their most recent fixture, the Galicians narrowly avoided defeat, securing a 1:1 draw at home against Girona with a penalty in the 92nd minute. Holding 4 points, Celta is currently positioned 14th in the table, having played one match more than Rayo Vallecano.

Key Statistics for Celta

• A maximum of two goals has been recorded in Celta’s last 7 matches in the Primera División.
• The team has not scored more than 1 goal in any of their last 7 league matches.
• The Galicians were undefeated in the second half of 9 of their previous 11 away matches in (5 wins and 4 draws).

Celta’s Predicted Lineup

Andrei Radu – Carlos Domínguez, Sergio Carreira, Javi Rodríguez, Óscar Mingueza – Manu Fernández, Ilaix Moriba, Hugo Sotelo – Iago Aspas, Ferran Jutglà, Pablo Durán.

Main Match Prediction: Rayo Vallecano vs Celta

For this upcoming encounter, I do not anticipate a high-scoring game or a dominant victory for either side. It is highly probable that the match will be primarily contested in the midfield, with limited goalmouth action. Both clubs have shown modest offensive output and a lack of spectacular play at the start of the season, averaging approximately one goal or less per game.

Form and Head-to-Head Analysis

In 3 of the last 4 head-to-head matches played in Madrid in the league, the result was a draw, including one goalless encounter. Given Celta’s recent run of results, a similar stalemate or a narrow win decided by a single goal appears to be a distinct possibility. Rayo Vallecano also has a tendency for draws at home, and in 8 of their last 10 home games, they have failed to score more than one goal. Consequently, it is unlikely that more than two goals will be scored collectively by these opponents.

Final Betting Recommendation

My prediction is “Total Goals Under 2.5”.

Author: Oleksandr Oleksenko

* The indicated starting lineup for each team is based on their formation in their previous match within this tournament.