Rayo Vallecano will be aiming for consecutive wins in the league when they host Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.
Second-placed Atletico Madrid will be aiming for their fourth win in a row in all competitions when they hit the road to face Rayo Vallecano at the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas on Sunday night.
The home team kick-started the 2024/25 season with a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad. It was an ideal start for them. But they had to wait until matchday five for their second win. Now, they will look to make it back-to-back wins in the league but it won’t be an easy task.
Vallecano dominated the proceedings against Osasuna and secured a 3-1 win and they will be looking for a similar performance against Atletico Madrid. But, they will have a tough time dealing with Diego Simeone’s team.
The visitors are currently second in the league with three wins and two draws in their five league outings. They have won each of their last two league fixtures and will be looking to make it three wins in a row in La Liga.
Los Rojiblancos squared up against RB Leipzig in their last outing. Simeone’s men had to dig deep to secure a 2-1 win in their UEFA Champions League opener, and they will hope for a better performance in the final third against Vallecano. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Rayo Vallecano
The home team will be without the services of Alfonso Espino and Diego Mendez. Apart from the duo, Inigo Perez does not have any other concerns. He is unlikely to make too many changes to the XI that started in their last outing.
Rayo Vallecano will line up in a 4-3-3 formation, where Augusto Batalla will be in goal. Andrei Ratiu and Pep Chavarria will be the full-backs, while Florian Lejeune will pair up with Abdul Mumin in the heart of the defence. The back four are all set to have a tough time dealing with Atletico’s star-studded attack.
In the centre of the park, Oscar Valentin will start alongside Oscar Trejo and Unai Lopez. The trio will look to ensure Atletico Madrid do not end up dominating the ball too deep in their half. Isi Palazon will feature on the right flank, while Alvaro Garcia Rivera will take charge on the left and Sergio Camello will lead the line for Rayo Vallecano against Atletico Madrid.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mumin, Chavarria; Valentin, Trejo, Unai Lopez; Palazon, Camello, Alvaro Garcia
Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone will be without the services of Pablo Barrios. But, the good news is Atletico Madrid do not have any other injury concerns ahead of the trip to Estadio de Vallecano to take on Rayo Vallecano.
The Argentine manager will make a few changes to the XI that started in the Champions League fixture but he is expected to retain the core. The away side will line up in a 3-4-3 formation, where Jan Oblak will be in goal. The back three will be made up of Robin Le Normand, Jose Gimenez and Reinildo Mandava.
Marcos Llorente and Samuel Lino will start as the two midfielders. The duo will feature as wing-backs and will look to contribute on both ends of the pitch. In the centre of the park, veteran Koke will pair up with Conor Gallagher. The duo will look to control the tempo and ensure they have the majority of the ball.
Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez will start on the flanks. They will have the freedom to drift wide as well as link up with the midfielders. Finally, Alexander Sørloth will spearhead the Atletico Madrid attack in this fixture against Rayo Vallecano.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Oblak; Le Normand, Gimenez, Reinildo; Llorente, Gallagher, Koke, Lino; Griezmann, Sorloth, Alvarez
Key Stats
- Atletico have won 19 out of the last 30 outings against Rayo Vallecano.
- The home team have only managed three wins in those 30 meetings.
- Vallecano have been winless in their last 16 games against Atletico Madrid (13 defeats, 3 draws).
- The home team last won against Atletico back in February 2013.
- Simeone’s men have won four out of their last five away games in the league.
Player to Watch
Julian Alvarez
Alvarez was not a regular starter at Manchester City, but he was still able to rack up exceptional numbers at the Premier League club. However, the Argentine international has not been that great in the final third since his big-money move to Atletico Madrid. In his five league outings, the 24-year-old has only scored once, and he will be eager to add to it against Vallecano.
Prediction
Rayo Vallecano 0-2 Atletico Madrid
Rayo Vallecano are heading into this one on the back of a win, and they are hoping to make it two in a row. But, they do not have enough firepower to take down Diego Simeone’s team who have been on a roll of late with three wins in their last three outings across competitions. Atletico Madrid are expected to come out on top without much difficulty. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for the visitors.