Almeria – Rayo Vallecano : Preview & Prediction
Newly-promoted UD Almeria have had a very poor start to the season, suffering five defeats and picking up just four points from their first seven matches (G1, E1, P5), their worst record after seven rounds of a league campaign since 2013-14. Be that as it may, the Indalic side occupies the same position (18th) as it did at this point in that LaLiga Santander (LL) season, when it avoided relegation by finishing 17th.
“This defeat will not traumatize us”, declared the red and white coach, Rubi, after the defeat at Athletic’s home ground last matchday (ATH 4-0 UDA), but Almeria have now gone on a worrying run of four defeats in which they have failed to find the back of the net. The Almeria side, who have yet to keep a clean sheet in the current championship, have won only one of their three matches at the Power Horse Stadium (G1, P2). However, it should be noted that four of their five league defeats have been by the narrowest of margins. A lack of goals is weighing down Rubi’s side (0.57 goals p. p.).
This will be the fifth outing of the campaign for Rayo Vallecano, who go into the eighth matchday after beating Elche in extremis at Vallecas thanks to a sensational volley by Unai López in the 95th minute. The coach, Andoni Iraola, expressed his satisfaction with the hard-fought three points: “When you win like this, victory tastes very good”. The Vallecas have won twice at home, but have suffered two consecutive defeats away from home and have only four points from a possible 12 (G1, E1, P2).
The Power Horse Stadium could be an ideal place for Rayo to get back to winning ways on the road: they have won in three of their last four visits to Almeria (G3, P1). To do so, Rayo will do well to regain the defensive solidity that allowed them to keep clean sheets in five of their six LL away games (G3, E2, P1) prior to the two defeats suffered away from Vallecas in September (Osasuna, Athletic).
Players to watch: Almeria have gone four games without scoring since the departure of striker Umar Sadiq to Real Sociedad, and much of the attacking responsibility now falls to Largie Ramazani, with two goals this season. Both goals opened his team’s scoring account in two games. Unai López scored his first goal in LL 2022-23 against Elche, Rayo’s second-late second goal of the 21st century.
A highlight: Almeria have now gone nine consecutive league matches without a clean sheet.
Almeria – Rayo Vallecano : Betting Tips
Almeria – Win Odds: 2.25
