Rayo Vallecano hosts Atletico Madrid at Estadio de Vallecas on Sunday in a La Liga encounter that sees two sides at opposite ends of the table clash.
Rayo Vallecano vs Atletico Madrid – Match preview and team news
- Date: Sunday, 15th February.
- Kick-off: 3:15pm BST.
- Venue: Estadio Ontime Butarque, Leganes.
Rayo Vallecano team news
Unai Lopez, who has been influential in midfield with three assists this season, is considered doubtful but could feature.
Abdul Mumin is out due to his knee injury, Pep Chavarria and Pathe Ciss are both suspended after their red cards against Real Madrid.
Jorge De Frutos, the team’s top scorer with seven goals, will be crucial to Rayo’s chances of securing a positive result.
Atletico Madrid team news
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone faces significant selection decisions as he looks to manage his squad’s fitness amid a congested fixture schedule. Following Thursday’s emphatic Copa del Rey victory over Barcelona, Simeone is expected to rotate slightly.
Though the team will miss a few players. Pablo Barrios has been ruled out with a right thigh muscle injury sustained in the Copa del Rey quarter-final against Real Betis and is expected to be back not before late February.
American midfielder Johnny Cardoso is also sidelined with a muscle problem, the latest in a series of fitness issues for the former Real Betis man.
On a positive note, new signing Ademola Lookman is available and in excellent form. Lookman scored and provided an assist in the 4-0 thrashing of Barcelona, showcasing the pace and creativity that made him one of Serie A’s most feared attackers.
However, with a crucial Champions League play-off first leg against Club Brugge looming on Wednesday, Simeone is likely to rest a few players, with goalkeeper Juan Musso and defender Matteo Ruggeri potentially expected to retain their places alongwith some other names from the game against Barcelona.
Form
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano are enduring a desperate run of form, suffering four consecutive defeats. Their most recent outing saw them lose 2-1 away to Real Madrid on February 1st, despite taking the lead. Before that, Los Franjirrojos were hammered 3-0 away at Celta Vigo on January 18th and lost 1-3 at home to Osasuna on January 24th.
Atletico Madrid
Atletico remain in third place with 45 points from 23 matches, level on points with fourth-placed Villarreal. Their most recent performance was nothing short of spectacular—a dominant 4-0 victory over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg on Thursday.
Predicted lineups
Rayo Vallecano: Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mendy, Felipe; Valentin, Gumbau; Akhomach, Palazon, A Garcia; De Frutos
Atletico Madrid: Musso; Molina, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Llorente, Koke, Lookman; Griezmann, Alvarez
How to watch Rayo Vallecano vs Atletico Madrid?
UK fans can watch the game live on Premier Sports 2.
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