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INPLAY - Rayo Vallecano picked up a significant victory last weekend just when it looked like they were in danger of getting cut slightly adrift along with Huesca at the foot of the table. They will do well to back that up here though against a Real Betis side that plays some excellent football at times. This Sunday’s late game in La Liga promises to be a pretty open one with both sides favouring a pretty attacking style.
That hasn’t served Rayo Vallecano too well so far though. Their victory over Eibar last time out was just their second of the season although they couldn’t back that up in the Copa del Rey in midweek, losing to Madrid rivals Leganes. They won’t be too concerned by that with survival the only real objective on their first season back at this level.
It’s safe to say that Betis have loftier ambitions. Having already secured Europa League progress, they can afford to really target this game and not think too much about their trip to Dudelange this coming week. They’ve actually been resting players at times in the league to save them for Europe, which is a refreshing strategy but one that has perhaps contributed to them currently only sitting in mid-table having finished 6th last term.
Rayo were very ordinary in their last away game at Valencia, losing 3-0 to a side with no home wins prior to that. Even against Eibar last week, they were fortunate to win, creating only 0.38 expected goals to their opponents’ 1.36. With La Liga’s second worst defensive record, this could be a really tough game for Rayo against a Betis side targeting a 4th home win in the space of just 10 days in all competitions.
Rayo Vallecano picked up a significant victory last weekend just when it looked like they were in danger of getting cut slightly adrift along with Huesca at the foot of the table. They will do well to back that up here though against a Real Betis side that plays some excellent football at times. This Sunday’s late game in La Liga promises to be a pretty open one with both sides favouring a pretty attacking style.
That hasn’t served Rayo Vallecano too well so far though. Their victory over Eibar last time out was just their second of the season although they couldn’t back that up in the Copa del Rey in midweek, losing to Madrid rivals Leganes. They won’t be too concerned by that with survival the only real objective on their first season back at this level.
It’s safe to say that Betis have loftier ambitions. Having already secured Europa League progress, they can afford to really target this game and not think too much about their trip to Dudelange this coming week. They’ve actually been resting players at times in the league to save them for Europe, which is a refreshing strategy but one that has perhaps contributed to them currently only sitting in mid-table having finished 6th last term.
They should have too much class for Rayo here. The home games which Betis have struggled in this term have been against sides who’ve parked the bus and played on the break. Rayo don’t really have the personnel to do that and putting 11 men behind the ball isn’t really Michel’s style in any case. They should be relatively adventurous again and 64% of their league games this term have produced over 2.5 goals.
Rayo were very ordinary in their last away game at Valencia, losing 3-0 to a side with no home wins prior to that. Even against Eibar last week, they were fortunate to win, creating only 0.38 expected goals to their opponents’ 1.36. With La Liga’s second worst defensive record, this could be a really tough game for Rayo against a Betis side targeting a 4th home win in the space of just 10 days in all competitions.