Rayo Vallecano Form
Inigo Perez has built a team that turn into an extremely awkward and tenacious opponent at home. At the Estadio de Vallecas, Rayo Vallecano have lost only twice all La Liga season. The main trump card is defensive reliability: at home the Bees have conceded only 11 of their 38 goals overall. However, before the match with Espanyol Barcelona the coaching staff have been hit by an injury crisis in defence: first-choice centre-backs Lejeune and Mendy will miss out because of suspension. This will force Perez to field an experimental centre-back pairing, which could undermine the usual solidity of the back line.
Key numbers for Rayo Vallecano:
Rayo Vallecano have collected 80 yellow cards this season (the third-worst figure).
In five of their last six home league matches, the side coached by Inigo Perez have scored in the second half.
On average, Rayo Vallecano win six corners per match (the fourth-best figure in La Liga).
Probable lineup (4-3-3): Augusto Batalla – Andrei Ratiu, Joshua Vetrout, Pate Ciss, Pacha – Oscar Valentin, Isi Palazon, Unai Lopez – Ilias Akhomach, Jorge de Frutos, Josep Chevarria.
Out: Florian Lejeune, Nobel Mendy (suspensions), Luiz Felipe (injury), Alvaro Garcia, Fran Perez, Randy Nteka (doubts).
Espanyol Barcelona Form
Espanyol Barcelona in 2026 are the embodiment of a crisis of play. A run of 14 matches without a win has turned a solid mid-table side into a relegation candidate. The Parrots’ main problem is a catastrophic defence that has already conceded 48 goals (relegation-level numbers). At the same time, the attacking potential of Manolo Gonzalez’s team has not been exhausted: in 10 of 11 matches they have definitely found the net. But the defensive errors we saw in the recent derby against Barcelona (1:4) negate all the forwards’ efforts.
Key numbers for Espanyol Barcelona:
In 11 of their last 14 matches, the Catalans concede in the second half.
In six of Espanyol Barcelona’s last seven away games, the total over 2.5 goals has been beaten.
Manolo Gonzalez’s team concede more than one goal in six of their last seven away matches.
Probable lineup (4-4-1-1): Marko Dmitrovic – Omar El Hilali, Fernando Calero, Leandro Cabrera, Carlos Romero – Cyril Ngonge, Charles Pickel, Pol Lozano, Tyrhys Dolan – Edu Exposito – Kike Garcia.
Out: Javi Puado (injury), Urko Gonzalez (suspension).
