Rayo Vallecano take on the visitors Getafe in the round 18 match of Spanish LaLiga. The match will be played on Friday, January 2nd at Campo de Futbol de Vallecas (Madrid).
Rayo Vallecano have previously shown that they are more than just a mid-table side, capable of producing surprises from time to time. Real success came last spring, albeit in a rather specific way: with not so many points, just 52, they still edged Osasuna on tiebreakers and finished in eighth place, which also secured qualification for the Conference League. There, they managed to eliminate Neman in the qualifiers, and in the main stage the Spaniards collected 13 points, delivering one of the best records among all participants. At the same time, their domestic form declined: yes, the cup campaign is still alive, with a clash against Granada ahead, but in La Liga defeats now outnumber victories. Against Elche, it even ended in a heavy 0-4 loss. Overall, recent results suggest that the packed calendar has taken its toll on consistency. Still, Rayo have shown at home that they can remain competitive even during difficult stretches.
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Getafe are trying not to lose hope of another breakthrough. With the same coach, Bordalás, the team once made a remarkable leap from Segunda almost straight into the Europa League playoffs. During his current spell, however, Pepe has mostly managed to keep the side relatively safely above the relegation zone. At the start of the new season, the Blues produced results that kept them in the European places. Since November, though, performances have clearly declined. In winter, they lost to both Villarreal and Espanyol, then exited the cup after losing to modest Burgos. After that, against Betis, they conceded four goals without reply. The only remaining hope is that the break will help reset their form. Recent outings show that Getafe are struggling to compete with teams in good rhythm. However, they have previously responded well after pauses, which leaves some room for cautious optimism.
Rayo currently have a run of eight consecutive head-to-head matches without defeat against their neighbors. Most of these games, five in total, ended in draws, but there were also three wins, including a 1-0 victory here in May. This derby is unlikely to be entertaining, as everything could be decided by the first goal, if there is one at all. The pick is under 2.0 total goals.
Prediction for the match: Under 2.0 scored goals.
