Rayo Vallecano vs Mallorca predictions and match preview for Saturday’s Spanish Segunda Division game. Read on for the head-to-head and analysis ahead of this key game in the promotion race.
- DATE: Saturday 23rd January 2021
- KICK-OFF: 16:00 (local time)
- STADIUM: Vallecas
- COMPETITION: LaLiga SmartBank
Rayo Vallecano vs Mallorca Preview
There’s a really big game at the top end of the Segunda Division on Saturday as Rayo Vallecano play host to Mallorca. The past fortnight has served up fresh evidence of what a mess Rayo have become off the pitch, but on it, they are having a strong campaign under Andoni Iraola and victory here would thrust them right back into the automatic promotion battle.
Rayo have won their last three league games, seeing off Mirandes in a rearranged fixture in midweek to move to within 5 points of their 2nd place opponents heading into this. Another win here would be a real statement of intent and with an 80% home win ratio in the Segunda Division this term, they should be confident heading into it.
They also have a Copa del Rey date with Barcelona to look forward to in a few days, despite the farcical circumstances that saw the 3rd Round match with Elche last weekend move from Vallecas to Rayo’s training ground and finally to Las Rozas due to a failure to clear snow from either pitch. While they still won the game in pretty convincing fashion against top flight opponents, Rayo’s players have since voiced their anger with fresh failings off the pitch with the club still being run by the immensely unpopular Raúl Martín Presa.
As for Mallorca, they are enduring their first genuine wobble this season, which had promised to be something of a champagne campaign. They headed towards the end of 2020 looking close to unstoppable in their charge towards an immediate top flight return. However it’s just one point from three league games for the Balearic Islanders heading into what is one of their toughest fixtures this term.
A 1-0 home defeat to Las Palmas was their latest setback and they’ve suddenly started conceding a few goals with 6 conceded in their last 3 league outings, more than they’d let in all season prior to that. While they had reason to be aggrieved by the manner of their controversial 3-2 defeat to Fuenlabrada, it’s down to the Mallorca players to regroup and refocus as they can ill afford for this slump to continue much longer with at least two other very strong automatic promotion contenders.
Head to Head
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 3 Rayo Wins, 2 Mallorca Wins, 1 Draw.
- Rayo won 1-0 at Son Moix earlier this season to inflict a rare defeat on Mallorca.
- The last 6 meetings at Vallecas have produced 3 wins each, including 2 games in the Copa del Rey.
Rayo Vallecano vs Mallorca Predictions
Score Prediction: Rayo Vallecano 2-1 Mallorca
All the momentum is with Rayo heading into this game and while Mallorca have been terrific this season, they are heading to Vallecas at a bad time. Rayo are playing with the kind of confidence which suggests they believe they can beat anyone on home soil and they might just have the edge here against an out of sorts Mallorca.
LaLiga SmartBank Betting Tips (18+)
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Read our latest LaLiga SmartBank previews and predictions.
