Today at 12 noon, Colombian time, Rayo Vallecano faces Espanyol in Barcelona as a visitor. The team led by Andoni Iraola is placed in the 15th square of the standings and today is experiencing one of the worst streaks in its history. They started the season very well, fighting for the Champions League positions, but after a string of bad games they have fallen into a pothole that they have not managed to overcome today and makes them closer and closer to the relegation zone.
Rayo has three draws and two losses in their last five matches, they have 39 points and their goal difference is -7. The people of Madrid are in free fall. So far this year they have not been able to add up to three. The last time they succeeded was in December of the previous year. They are the worst visiting team in LaLiga, along with Alavés, the team with which they fell on the last date of the Spanish tournament by 1-0, and one of the least scorers. Away from home they have only managed to score in two matches. For this game, Iraola's players will not be able to count on Falcao García, who was absent in recent times, Ezequiel Saveljich and Miguel Merquelanz, due to injury, or Iván Balliu, who was left out by suspension.
The Colombian has only participated in seventeen of the twenty-eight matches that his team has played during the season. He has scored five times and registered a yellow card. Injuries have kept him out of the tournament and despite the fact that the team supports him, the fans are already beginning to resist it. Today, Falcao is the eleventh most valuable player in his squad and at the age of 36 he ranks among the top 100 most valuable footballers in his country in the world. At his best, the Samario striker was considered “the best 9 in the world” and came to be worth around 60.00 million euros. Today, his record is between 2.00 and 2.20 million euros.
In the face of Espanyol, beyond its time, Rayo Vallecano has a good record. They have managed to win in their last three matches. For its part, the team led by Vicente Moreno comes from falling to Atlético de Madrid by 2-1. They are three places above the people of Madrid, in the standings, occupying square number 12 and adding 39 points. In their last five matches, they have scored two defeats and a draw, they have won twice.
Espanyol will seek to defend their home today and improve their current situation, as they have been inconsistent in their results throughout the tournament. They have found a balance in both their offensive and defensive play and will seek to expand their record of victories at home. They have won three games and two more without falling in their stadium, scoring at least once in each match. For today's commitment, the only casualty they have is that of Óscar Gil, who misses the match due to injury. Instead, the DT would bet on Aleix Vidal or Miguelón to occupy the right-back, although the latter has not even entered the calls for several weeks.
Although they are not in an ideal position, the blue and whites come to this game in a relatively quiet area. Should they fall, their situation would not be as drastic as that of Rayo Vallecano who, if they won, would rise only one square and would still be far from fulfilling their objectives.
The possible lineups for the match would be:
Spanish: Diego López, Aleix Vidal, Calero, Cabrera, Pedrosa; Keidi, Yangel; Vilhena, Darder, Puado; RdT.
Rayo Vallecano: Dimitrievski; Mario Hernandez, Maras, Catena, Fran Garcia; Valentine, Comesaña; Isi, Trejo, Alvaro; Guardiola.
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