Rayo Vallecano vs Espanyol
Match recap
Rayo Vallecano beat Espanyol 1–0 in their La Liga fixture. Camello scored for Rayo Vallecano. Expected-goals data put the chance balance at 1.67 for Rayo Vallecano versus 1.97 for Espanyol. Rayo Vallecano sit 8th in the La Liga table while Espanyol are 11th.
Analysis
Rayo Vallecano host Espanyol in what promises to be a tightly contested La Liga fixture. Both teams sit mid-table, eager to secure valuable points as the season nears its climax.
Rayo Vallecano currently rank 15th with 35 points, while Espanyol are slightly ahead in 12th place with 38 points. This close proximity in the standings sets the stage for a competitive match with little room for error.
Rayo's top scorer Jorge de Frutos, with 10 goals this season and strong recent form, poses a significant threat, especially at home. Midfielder Álvaro García's creative influence, leading with 5 assists, will be key in unlocking Espanyol's defence. Espanyol's defensive resilience and occasional set-piece threat from A. Espino add intrigue. Both teams have full squads available, ensuring a fair contest.
Prediction
The most probable outcome is a 1-1 draw, with a goalless first half giving way to goals from both sides in the second. Expect a competitive match with around four cards shown, reflecting the intensity and stakes involved.
Outcome probability
Key Insights
De Frutos vs Espanyol Defense
De Frutos' pace and finishing could exploit Espanyol's defensive vulnerabilities, especially at home.
Álvaro García's Creative Influence
García leads assists and key passes, boosting Rayo's chance creation against Espanyol.
Rayo's Home Scoring Streak
Rayo has scored in 5 recent home games, indicating attacking momentum for this fixture.
Espino's Set-Piece Threat
Espino has scored recently away, showing potential to impact from set plays against Espanyol.
No Key Injuries Reported
Both teams have full squads available, so no major impact from absences expected.
Key Takeaways
With both teams evenly matched and motivated, a draw seems the fairest result. Fans can anticipate a spirited encounter featuring key players like de Frutos and García making their mark.
- Rayo Vallecano rank 15th with 35 points from 31 games (W8 D11 L12).
- Espanyol rank 12th with 38 points from 31 games (W10 D8 L13).
- Jorge de Frutos is Rayo's top scorer with 10 goals in 29 games.
- Álvaro García leads Rayo with 5 assists in 31 games.
- Rayo has scored in their last 5 home games, showing attacking momentum.
- No key injuries reported for either team, full squads available.
- Expected total cards in the match is 4, indicating a competitive but controlled game.
Player Insights
Standout players Fipster expects to impact the match — curated highlights, not full squad lists
Home — Rayo Vallecano
Away — Espanyol
No standout top scorers flagged for Espanyol
Form as the teams went into this match — excludes this result and anything since.
Team Comparison
Season shape — attack, defence, form, clean sheets & win rate
Home vs Away comparison
Goal difference in each of the last few fixtures — above the line is a net win, below is a net loss
Season comparison
Goals scored & conceded, goal difference and clean sheets across the season
Halftime Performance
What each side does once the whistle goes for half time
Streaks
Recent-form runs — each side’s most-recent game meets in the middle
Head to Head
Batalla
Yellow Card
Milla
Yellow Card
Lozano
Yellow Card
Lozano
Ciss
Yellow Card
Espino
Fernández
Cabrera
Yellow Card
Óscar Valentín
Alemão
Dolan
Calero
Vertrouwd
Díaz
Ngonge
Yellow Card
Camello
Assist: Akhomach
Milla
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Barcelona | 38 | 31 | 1 | 6 | +59 | 94 |
| 7 |  Getafe | 38 | 15 | 6 | 17 | -6 | 51 |
| 8 |  Rayo Vallecano | 38 | 12 | 14 | 12 | -3 | 50 |
| 9 |  Valencia | 38 | 13 | 10 | 15 | -9 | 49 |
| 10 |  Real Sociedad | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | -2 | 46 |
| 11 |  Espanyol | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | -12 | 46 |
| 12 |  Athletic Club | 38 | 13 | 6 | 19 | -15 | 45 |
Match Statistics
Rayo Vallecano
4-2-3-1Starting XI
- 1Dani CárdenasG
- 2A. RațiuD
- 3Pep ChavarríaD
- 4Pedro DíazM
- 6P. CissD
- 7Isi PalazónM
- 9AlemãoF
- 19Jorge de FrutosM
- 22A. EspinoM
- 23Óscar ValentínM
- 33J. VertrouwdD
Substitutes
- 8Ó. TrejoM
- 10Sergio CamelloF
- 12Ilias AkhomachF
- 13A. BatallaG
- 14Carlos MartínF
- 15GumbauM
- 16A. MuminD
- 17Unai LópezM
- 20I. BalliuD
- 21Fran PérezM
- 30JuanpeG
Espanyol
4-4-2Starting XI
- 5Fernando CaleroD
- 6L. CabreraD
- 8Edu ExpósitoM
- 9Roberto FernándezF
- 10Pol LozanoM
- 11Pere MillaM
- 13M. DmitrovićG
- 19Kike GarcíaF
- 22Carlos RomeroD
- 23O. El HilaliD
- 24T. DolanM
Substitutes
- 1Ángel FortuñoG
- 2Rubén SánchezD
- 12José SalinasD
- 14Ramón TerratsM
- 15Miguel RubioD
- 16C. NgongeF
- 17Jofre CarrerasF
- 18C. PickelM
- 20Antoniu RocaF
- 38C. RiedelD
Rayo Vallecano
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dani Cárdenas | G | 90 | 8.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Andrei Rațiu | D | 90 | 8.3 | — | — | 2 | — | 4 | 4/6 |
| Pathé Ismaël Ciss | D | 90 | 7.7 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
| Jozhua Vertrouwd | D | 81 | 7.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Josep Chavarría | D | 90 | 7.2 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1/2 |
| Pacha | M | 58 | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2/2 |
| Isi Palazón | M | 90 | 6.9 | — | — | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1/3 |
| Pedro Díaz | M | 81 | 6.9 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1/2 |
| Óscar Valentín(C) | M | 76 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0/2 |
| Jorge de Frutos | M | 90 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/3 |
| Alemão | F | 76 | 6.2 | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | — |
| Substitutes | |||||||||
| Carlos Martín | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Juanpe | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Fran Pérez | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Óscar Trejo | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ivan Balliu | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Augusto Batalla | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sergio Camello | F | 9 | 7.7 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1/1 |
| Ilias Akhomach | F | 32 | 7.2 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — |
| Gerard Gumbau | M | 14 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Unai López | M | 14 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Abdul Mumin | D | 9 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Espanyol
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edu Expósito | M | 90 | 7.0 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1/3 |
| Fernando Calero | D | 78 | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Carlos Romero | D | 90 | 6.9 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| Tyrhys Dolan | M | 78 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2/3 |
| Roberto Fernández | F | 67 | 6.7 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1/1 |
| Marko Dmitrović | G | 90 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Omar El Hilali | D | 90 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/1 |
| Leandro Cabrera(C) | D | 90 | 6.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/1 |
| Pere Milla | M | 89 | 6.3 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| Pol Lozano | M | 45 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Kike García | F | 90 | 5.9 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — |
| Substitutes | |||||||||
| Jose Salinas | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Angel Fortuno | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rubén Sánchez | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Antoniu Roca | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jofre Carreras | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Charles Pickel | M | 45 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cyril Ngonge | F | 12 | 6.7 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Clemens Riedel | D | 12 | 6.5 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Miguel Rubio | D | 8 | 6.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ramón Terrats | M | 23 | 6.5 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 0/1 |