Matchday 25 of the La Liga fixture between Real Betis Balompie and Rayo Vallecano will take place on 21 February at the Olympic Stadium in Seville. Real Betis Balompie vs Rayo Vallecano: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Real Betis Balompie
This month, Real Betis Balompie have yet to drop a point, winning three consecutive games in the Primera Division for the first time since September-October last year. A few days ago, the home team beat Mallorca away from home (2:1) and, as a result, the hosts have strengthened their grip on fifth place in the standings. The gap to their nearest pursuer has now grown to six points, while they are only four points off a Champions League spot. It is also worth noting that since the start of this La Liga season, the club have scored 39 goals in total, with only three sides bettering that tally.
- The club have scored in six straight home league games in Spain.
- Real Betis Balompie's uncompromising run in this competition stands at five matches (four wins, one defeat).
- Both teams have scored in five of Real Betis Balompie's previous seven Primera Division matches.
Potential Real Betis Balompie Lineup (4-3-3)*
Alvaro Valles - Natan, Diego Llorente, Aitor Ruibal, Ricardo Rodriguez - Marc Roca, Alvaro Fidalgo, Pablo Fornals - Abde Ezzalzouli, Antony, Cedric Bakambu.
Due to fitness problems, midfielders Giovani Lo Celso, Isco and Sofyan Amrabat will not be ready for the game.
Rayo Vallecano
Last week, Rayo Vallecano unexpectedly beat Atletico Madrid, with the home match ending in a 3:0 rout. That result ended the visitors' three-game losing run in La Liga, and the derby win was only their second in their last 13 matches in this competition. It is also worth noting that the away side kept a clean sheet for the first time in their last seven league games in Spain. The club have moved out of the relegation zone, but climbed only one place in the standings. That said, the team still have a game in hand.
- In this Primera Division campaign, Rayo Vallecano have scored 21 goals in total, with only Getafe (20) and Oviedo (13) recording fewer.
- Rayo Vallecano's uncompromising run in this competition has reached five matches (two wins, three defeats).
- The visitors have scored in five of their previous six La Liga matches.
Potential Rayo Vallecano Lineup (4-5-1)*
Augusto Batalla - Andrei Ratiu, Florian Lejeune, Nobel Mendy, Alfonso Espino - Oscar Valentin, Gerard Gumbau, Isi Palason, Ilias Akhomach, Fran Perez - Jorge De Frutos.
Defender Pep Chavarria and midfielder Pate Ciss are suspended.
Real Betis Balompie vs Rayo Vallecano: Match Prediction
Real Betis Balompie are in fine form and have joined the race for a Champions League spot. Over the last five Primera Division matchdays, the home team have won four times. Since the start of February, the hosts have not made a single misstep in this competition, taking maximum points from three straight matches. If we look strictly at their home record, the club have also avoided defeat in their last three Spanish league games on their own ground.
Rayo Vallecano shocked Atletico with a thumping 3:0 win, but that may prove to be a one-off, given they had lost three in a row prior to it. Just as importantly, since the start of November in La Liga, the visitors have won exclusively at home. Across their last six away matches in this competition, the club have collected exactly one point, and before the most recent game against Real Madrid, Rayo Vallecano went a long time without even being able to score.
We should also add that the hosts have won four of the last five head-to-head meetings at home in the Primera Division.
Prediction: Real Betis Balompie to win
* For each team, the starting XI from their previous match in this competition is listed.
