Who will set the pace of the match?
Growing anxiety is spreading among nearly all clubs in the lower half of the La Liga table. The two clubs featured in our Rayo Vallecano vs. Espanyol Barcelona tip are among those still fighting to stay in Spain’s top flight.
Inigo Perez has been with the home side for more than two years. The 38-year-old favors a style of play based on maximum intensity, which adds depth to our Rayo Vallecano vs. Espanyol Barcelona prediction. Only Barcelona (8.5) and Elche (10.0) allow more passes per defensive action this La Liga season than the Franjirrojos (10.3).
His counterpart has also implemented a direct style of play. Manolo Gonzales has also been with the Pericos for more than two years. Possession plays a completely secondary role in the eyes of the visitors (41.9 percent on average). Their goal is the quickest route to the opponent’s goal.
The visitors hold one advantage over the Rayistas. The Blue-Whites are brutally dangerous on set pieces—they’ve scored the second-most set-piece goals in the league (13). In terms of expected set-piece goals, the Espanyolistas also rank a respectable second (12.80 set-piece xG).
The hosts look particularly sharp in the battle for loose balls—and there will be plenty of those in this high-speed duel. Only Athletic Bilbao (1,634) has recorded more “ball recoveries” than Inigo Perez’s squad (1,561).
Rayo Vallecano – Espanyol Barcelona Head-to-Head Record
Typical of Espanyol Barcelona, the Gonzales squad eschewed possession in the first-leg matchup—with success. The Espanyolistas won 1-0 at home. It was their fourth consecutive victory against Rayo Vallecano. A streak that is unlikely to continue in this fashion.
Defensively, the Pericos have had the occasional lapse recently and have conceded at least two goals in ten of their previous twelve La Liga matches. Additionally, Espanyol has allowed slightly more goals on the road (27) than at home (21).
Rayo Vallecano – Espanyol Barcelona Prediction
If the home side wants to come away with a win from this match, they need to improve their finishing. Rayo Vallecano creates enough chances. In front of the goal, however, the Franjorrojos are currently lacking luck—perhaps they’re also lacking a bit of quality.
29 goals is, in any case, the third-lowest tally in the Spanish top flight. 43.04 expected goals, on the other hand, should have already been scored. The difference of 14.04 is unmatched by any other league rival this season.
The home side certainly isn’t lacking in scoring chances.
This matchup will be decided in the pressing duels. Espanyol Barcelona moves the ball across the field faster than any other La Liga team (2.10 m/s) and uses the third-fewest passes per sequence (2.94). As soon as Rayo Vallecano deviates even for a second from their intense pressing and the back line is caught off guard, the visitors are there to capitalize. Combined with the danger posed by the bottom-of-the-table side, there are many indications that this will be an entertaining and eventful match.
