Rayo Vallecano vs Zaragoza predictions and match preview for Friday’s Spanish Segunda Division game. Read on for the head-to-head and analysis as the hosts aim to get back to winning ways after a poor run of form.
- DATE: Friday 12th March 2021
- KICK-OFF: 21:00 (local time)
- STADIUM: Vallecas
- COMPETITION: LaLiga SmartBank
Rayo Vallecano vs Zaragoza Preview
We head to Vallecas on Friday night in the Segunda Division as two clubs who have endured tough times on and off the pitch in recent years meet. Rayo Vallecano have fallen out of automatic promotion contention and are now facing a battle just to make the play-offs while their opponents are only really concerned about avoiding the dreaded drop to the Segunda B.
Despite moments of real promise and the odd very impressive result, Rayo continue to flatter to deceive. Their most recent victory came at the RCDE Stadium where they saw off pre-season title favourites Espanyol 3-2. That ought to have been a platform to really kick on and challenge for the automatic promotion places having completed the double over one of their main rivals.
However it certainly hasn’t worked out like that. Since winning in Catalonia, Rayo immediately went and lost at home to Tenerife and have taken just 3 points from their last 5 games overall. Andoni Iraola will be as perplexed as anyone you’d imagine and while his side does boast a healthy 62% home win ratio this term in the Segunda Division, a much needed victory is far from guaranteed here.
That’s despite the difficult season Real Zaragoza are having. Arguably, the biggest club outside of the top flight, earlier in the campaign Zaragoza fans really were starting to fear that they were going to end up heading in the same direction as Deportivo La Coruna who dropped into the Segunda B in 2019/20. Juan Ignacio Martínez has steadied the ship, and while they do remain in a relegation battle, it’s one they now look more capable of winning.
4 wins from their last 8 games has helped make that the case. Only 4 teams have picked up more points in Spain’s second tier over the same period with a 1-0 home win over Tenerife last time out ensuring they should head into this game in better spirits. They have lost over 70% of their away fixtures this term though so they are a team that can be fragile on their travels.
Head to Head
- Last 6 Meetings: 3 Rayo Wins, 2 Zaragoza Wins, 1 Draw.
- Rayo won the reverse fixture 2-1 earlier this term.
- Zaragoza have won on 3 of their last 4 trips to Vallecas.
Rayo Vallecano vs Zaragoza Predictions
Score Prediction: Rayo Vallecano 2-1 Zaragoza
Truth be told, you can never really tell with Rayo, one of the most unpredictable teams in Spain right now. Their strong home record and Zaragoza’s very poor away record, suggests this one ought to go in the home team’s favour so we’re going to just side with the hosts but it’s likely to be a competitive game with the visitors in the better form.
LaLiga SmartBank Betting Tips (18+)
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