Rayo Vallecano vs Villarreal Match Preview & Prediction

Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona Match Preview & Prediction - Copa del Rey

Rayo Vallecano vs Villarreal predictions, head-to-head and match preview for this Wednesday’s game in the Copa del Rey. Read on for analysis and predicted line-ups as Rayo aim to send top flight opponents packing for the second week running.

Rayo Vallecano vs Villarreal Preview

Rayo Vallecano will be out to cause another Copa del Rey upset this Wednesday in Vallecas with a place in the Quarter-Finals at stake for the winners of their tie with Villarreal. This was of course a top flight fixture last season but there is a bigger gulf in quality between the two teams now with Rayo currently languishing in mid-table in the Segunda Division and Villarreal hoping to push for European qualification in La Liga or potentially via the Copa.

The hosts will be the underdogs again but they produced a really gutsy display to eventually see off Real Betis on penalties last week. Andres Martin’s 118th minute equaliser in Extra Time took the game to a shootout which Rayo won comfortably and with home advantage guaranteed until the Semi-Final stage, they might just fancy they can keep this run going a while longer.

Villarreal meanwhile were convincing winners last week away to another Segunda side that was playing top flight football last term. They won 3-0 at Girona to book their last 16 place and backed that up with another win on the road in La Liga at the weekend against Alaves. Javi Calleja’s men have found a bit of form again with 7 wins from their last 8 matches in all competitions and they’ll be favourites to keep that run going here.

In terms of team news, Rayo are weakened by the absence of Alejandro Catena here and that’s a significant blow. The centre-back was impressive in last week’s tie against Betis and a big threat from set-pieces with his First Half goal not the only one he could have scored. Villarreal meanwhile are expected to rotate from their weekend with talented winger Javier Ontiveros hoping to get a rare start.

Rayo Vallecano vs Villarreal Predictions

Score Prediction: 2-1 Villarreal

Rayo gave a really good account of themselves last week but did start to tire as the match went on. You wonder if the stresses and strains of playing 120 minutes last Thursday and another 90 in the league on Sunday may catch up with them here. Villarreal have much more options in terms of bringing in fresh legs and their extra class and fitness may show over the course of this game.

Rayo Vallecano vs Villarreal Betting Tips

You can view our betting tips for matches in the Copa del Rey this week by following our ‘all competitions’ portfolio on Tipstrr.

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Rayo Vallecano vs Villarreal H2H

Last 6 meetings: 2 Rayo Wins, 3 Villarreal Wins, 1 Draw.
5 of the last 6 meetings have seen both teams score and 3 or more goals in total.
The sides last met here in November 2018, playing out a 2-2 draw.
Rayo had won the previous two meetings in Vallecas but lost the last time the sides met (3-1 at the Ceramica last year).