Leganes take on the visitors Rayo Vallecano in the round 22 match of Spanish LaLiga. The match will be played on Friday, January 31st at Estadio Municipal de Butarque (Leganes).
Leganés finally returns to LaLiga. The Cucumber Growers made their La Liga debut in 2016 and managed to hold their own, surviving four consecutive seasons at the top level. However, it took them until last spring, under Borja Jiménez, to earn promotion again—this time as Segunda División champions. The newly promoted side has looked solid in the top tier so far, not only staying competitive in the Copa del Rey, where they now face Real Madrid, but also steadily increasing their gap from the relegation zone in La Liga. Even more impressive are their victories over Barcelona and Atlético Madrid—both within a span of just a few weeks this winter. In their most recent match against another strong opponent, Athletic Bilbao, they secured a valuable point with a goalless draw. Leganés' ability to grind out results against top teams proves they are more than just a relegation battler this season.
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Rayo Vallecano have managed to establish themselves despite being overshadowed by their more illustrious Madrid neighbors, Real and Atlético. While a modest club, Rayo has shown flashes of ambition over the years. That wasn’t the case last season, though—they barely averaged a point per game and finished in a precarious 17th place. Still, their five-point cushion over relegated Cádiz kept them safe. Improvement was necessary, and Rayo has delivered. Despite the failed experiment with James Rodríguez—his contract was terminated after an underwhelming stint—the team has climbed into the top half of the table. Since early December, their only real setback has been a Copa del Rey defeat to Real Sociedad. In their most recent league fixture, they secured a huge win over high-flying Girona. With their current form, Rayo looks like a legitimate contender for a top-half finish, possibly even a European spot.
In 2021, these clubs met in the promotion playoffs, where Rayo won both legs. Their latest meeting, in September, ended in a 1-1 draw at Leganés' home ground. Both teams are in good form, but Rayo has more top-flight experience. The best bet is Rayo Vallecano to win with a 0.0 Asian handicap (Draw No Bet).
Prediction for the match: Rayo Vallecano to win.
