LaLiga – Rayo Vallecano at home to Real Sociedad
LaLiga action on Sunday as Rayo and Real meet at Estadio de Vallecas – 6:30pm GMT.
It’s a clash of eleventh vs sixth, as Rayo host Real at Estadio de Vallecas.
Rayo Vallecano’s LaLiga season, has so far seen them gain 40 points, going into this game
It was a humbling defeat at the hands of Espanyol for Andoni Iraola’s men in their last match, they will be hoping to get something out of this game for sure.
Also, league success is all about winning football matches, any way you can, so 10 losses in 16 fixtures would not make this a successful season for Rayo. They currently stand eleventh in the League, with 40 points for a total of 11 wins, 15 losses and 8 draws having won 11 fixtures, drawn eight games, and lost 15 meetings.
Playing at home, Rayo have won eight matches, drawn four fixtures, and lost four meetings.
Rayo Vallecano will have secured 43 points so far this season, should they secure a win.
Rayo’s squad has depth, but even so, Andoni Iraola is likely to be missing two of they key players when they start Sunday’s game.
Real Sociedad’s campaign so far has seen them accrue 55 points this season
Real have dropped five points in their last two encounters – a 0-1 defeat at Barcelona and 0-0 draw at Real Betis.
Also, Real keep finding ways to win, having secured six victories in their last 11 matches is astonishing this season. With 55 points (15W, 8L and 11D), they are established in sixth position in the League having won 15 meetings, drawn 11 fixtures, and lost eight games.
Real’s away record is remarkable and poses a significant threat to Rayo. In the 16 games they’ve played on the road this season, they have so far won six meetings, drawn five matches, and lost five games.
Victory for Real Sociedad would take their points tally to 58 so far this season.
A solid defensive team
Real have shown a good defensive performance, having so far only conceded 32 goals in their previous fixtures. The number of goals that a team scores can sometimes give a misleading impression of performance. Real have found the net 33 times (30 from open play and three penalties), but their performance at times this season has been average. This season, their stand-out attacking players have been Mikel Oyarzabal (2), Alexander Sorloth (2), and Martin Zubimendi (1).
Imanol Alguacil will be forced to make changes to the plans for his squad, as injury or illness has depleted him of four of his Real players.
Rayo Vallecano v Real Sociedad – Head-to-Head.
Regarding their historical duels these two sides have met 34 times before this fixture, with each recording wins on 13 occasions. Additionally, Rayo are unbeaten in their last six of the previous 11 matches against Real. The last time they played each other in this competition was August 2021, when Rayo Vallecano walked away as 1-0 winners.
Performance Report
For Rayo, Sergi Guardiola contributed withthree goals in 32 League games this season, while Mikel Oyarzabal scoredtwo goals in 33 League fixtures this campaign for Real.
Other players of note for Rayo are Sergi Guardiola and Falcao with three goals each and for Real are Mikel Oyarzabal and Alexander Sorloth with two goals both.
