Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano Prediction & Betting Tips - LaLiga

Prediction published on 19/05/2024, 04:43  by Joseph King in LaLiga Predictions

Second-place Barcelona prepare for the penultimate match in the 2023/24 LaLiga campaign as they welcome 15th-placed Rayo Vallecano to the Camp Nou. The recently dethroned league champions are still in a battle with Girona to secure the runners-up spot in the standings. After suffering a hugely disappointing away defeat to the aforementioned Gironistes, Barcelona have responded positively with back-to-back wins in their last two outings. A 2-0 home win over Real Sociedad was followed up with a 2-0 away victory over Almeria to put Barcelona four points clear of third-place Girona. The hosts are now seeking their eighth win in the last 10 league matches and their 15th home victory in LaLiga this season. The Blaugrana have been on a tear at the Camp Nou in recent appearances. They’ve now won six of their last seven home fixtures with the only defeat during that stretch coming at the hands of PSG.

Rayo Vallecano have regressed slightly this season after a 12th and 11th-place finish in the previous two editions of LaLiga. They currently sit 15th with a points total of 38, meaning they sit six points above 18th-place Cadiz and the relegation zone. They will see their top flight status for next season secured with a point in either of their next two fixtures, or failure by Cadiz to win out. Rayo come into this matchup against the Catalan giants off the back of a 2-1 home victory over Granada. It ended a three-match winless run for the club which included a really poor 1-0 home loss to already-relegated Almeria. The visitors have actually been quite consistent in their home and away results as they average 1.00 points earned per away trip and 1.11 at home. However, Los Franjirrojos haven’t tasted victory on the road in more than five months.