Overview
Valencia is experiencing a volatile season when they are currently ranked 12th in the La Liga standings with 42 points after 35 rounds. Carlos Corberan's team has won 11 matches, drawn 9 and lost 15 matches, scored 38 goals but also conceded 50 goals.
However, the "Batties" enter the upcoming confrontation with considerable confidence after a 1-0 victory right on Athletic Bilbao's field in the most recent round. At Mestalla, Valencia showed a much more stable face than when playing away from home. They have won 7, drawn 5 and lost 5 after 17 home matches this season. Corberan expects the familiar support to add motivation for his players in the final stage of the season.
However, Valencia's recent form in La Liga is still quite erratic. In the last six rounds, they have only won two, drawn one and lost three matches, including two defeats in the last 3 home matches. This makes the reception of Rayo Vallecano very important if Valencia wants to close the season in a positive direction.
On the other side, Rayo Vallecano is experiencing the most memorable season in club history when they first reached the final of a European tournament, where they will face Crystal Palace.
Inigo Perez's team won a ticket to the final after a 2-0 victory over Strasbourg, with both legs ending with a score of 1-0. This achievement becomes even more impressive as this is only the second season Rayo has participated in the UEFA arena.
In La Liga, Rayo is currently ranked 10th with 43 points, one point more than Valencia. After 35 matches, they have 10 wins, 13 draws and 12 defeats, scored 36 goals and conceded 42 times.
The recent form of the Madrid team in the domestic league is relatively stable with two wins, 2 draws and only one defeat in five rounds. In the recent match, Rayo drew 1-1 against Girona.
However, Rayo's away record is still a worrying issue. They have only won 4 out of 17 away games this season, drawn 3 and lost up to 10 matches. This is considered a basis for Valencia to confidently aim to win all 3 points at Mestalla.
The history of head-to-head matches between the two teams also shows a significant balance. The first leg of this season ended in a 1-1 draw, while the last five encounters in all competitions witnessed each team winning one and the remaining 3 matches closed in a draw.
Personnel situation
Valencia will be without Jose Copete due to a sternum fracture, while Dimitri Foulquier and Thierry Correia will also be sidelined due to knee and hamstring problems.
In attack, Hugo Duro and Javi Guerra are likely to continue to play key roles as both are still the most prominent attacking factors of the team this season.
On Rayo Vallecano's side, Isi Palazon will be absent due to suspension. In that context, Jorge de Frutos is expected to take on the role of organizing the attack.
In addition, Luis Felipe is also unable to participate due to a hamstring injury, causing Inigo Perez to have more difficulty rotating the force at the end of the season.
Expected lineup:
Dimitrievski, Saravia, Cumart, Tarrega, Gaya, Rioja, Pepelu, Rodriguez, Lopez, Guerra, Duro.
Rayo Vallecano: Batalla, Ratiu, Lejeune, Ciss, Chavarria, Lopez, Valentin, Diaz, Espino, Aleman, De Frutos.
The match between Valencia and Rayo Vallecano takes place at 0:00 AM on May 15 (Vietnam time).
