Rayo Vallecano vs Albacete predictions and match preview for Monday’s Spanish Segunda Division game. Read on for the head-to-head and analysis as sides at opposing ends of the table clash.
- DATE: Monday 26th April 2021
- KICK-OFF: 19:00 (local time)
- STADIUM: Vallecas
- COMPETITION: LaLiga SmartBank
Rayo Vallecano vs Albacete Preview
Rayo Vallecano and Albacete kick off a Monday night double-header in LaLiga SmartBank. What had once promised to be a five or six way battle for automatic promotion has turned into something of a procession for Espanyol with Mallorca also looking out of reach for the likes of Rayo Vallecano whose inconsistency has proved their undoing.
On their day, they are a match for anyone in this league which could make them dangerous opponents in the play-offs. First though, they have to get there. Defeats in two of their last three home games and a goalless draw at Logrones have halted their progress and they are just a point above 7th placed Girona going into this game.
Andoni Iraola will take some confidence from an overall home win ratio of 58% heading into this game and while Girona do look a threat, there aren’t many other sides outside the top six that look capable of leapfrogging them. Sporting Gijon, the side directly above them, are also in poor form so Rayo should be capable of putting enough points on the board to book their place in the play-offs and anything short of a win here would be a bitter disappointment.
That’s because Albacete are at the very foot of the table. They are though a team that comes into this on the back of a rare victory – a 1-0 win over Mirandes last time out. They are 7 points from safety heading this game so it’s going to be really tough for them to stay up from this position with their four-year stay in the second tier in danger of coming to an end.
Albacete nearly won promotion to LaLiga a couple of seasons ago, missing out in the play-offs but this season has been a bit of a nightmare throughout. They are onto their third coach of the season and while Alejandro Menéndez has done better than the previous two, they remain an unconvincing outfit, with the worst goal tally in LaLiga SmartBank.
Head to Head
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 2 Rayo Wins, 1 Albacete Win, 3 Draws.
- The last 4 meetings in Vallecas have produced 2 Rayo wins and 2 draws.
- Albacete were 2-1 winners in the reverse fixture earlier this term.
Rayo Vallecano vs Albacete Predictions
Score Prediction: Rayo Vallecano 2-1 Albacete
If we’ve learned anything from Rayo this season, it’s to expect the unexpected, so you can never fully know what’s going to happen in their games. Their home record is strong though and despite their inconsistent reputation, they have actually only dropped 2 points all season at home to teams currently in the bottom half, so you have to fancy they will do the business here against struggling Albacete.
Read our latest LaLiga SmartBank previews and predictions.
