Prediction: Rayo Vallecano vs Strasbourg

Prediction: Rayo Vallecano to win 2-1

Best Odds: 15/2

Bookmaker: Zetbet

Rayo Vallecano and Strasbourg will lock horns with each other in the UEFA Conference League this week. The first leg of the semi-final tie between the La Liga club and the Ligue 1 outfit will be held at Campo de Futbol de Vallecas and is scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time on Thursday.

Rayo Vallecano

Rayo Vallecano are a modest club in Spain who are just happy to be part of the top flight in Spanish football. Rayo, though, did extremely well last season, as they ended up as high as eighth in the La Liga table.

Under head coach Inigo Perez, Rayo, though, are struggling in La Liga and are in real danger of getting relegated to the Segunda Division. Los Franjirrojos may be 11th in the La Liga table right now with 39 points from 33 matches, but they are only five points above the bottom three. However, Rayo have done superbly in Europe and have reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Conference League, where they will face Ligue 1 club Strasbourg.

Rayo will head into the match against Strasbourg on the back of a 3-3 draw with Real Sociedad at home in La Liga. It came after a 1-0 victory over Espanyol at Campo de Futbol de Vallecas in the league, which followed a 3-1 defeat to AEK Athens away from home in Greece in the second leg of their UEFA Conference League quarter-final tie.

Team News:

Rayo Vallecano are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Strasbourg. Daniel Cardenas will be in goal for the Spanish club. Andrei Ratiu, Florian Lejeune, Nobel Mendy and Pep Chavarria will be the four defenders. Unai Lopez and Pathe Ciss will be the two holding midfielders. Ilias Akhomach, Isi Palazon and Carlos Martin will be the three attacking midfielders. Sergio Camello will lead the line for Rayo.

Strasbourg

Strasbourg are a major club in France who tend to challenge for the European places in the league table. Les Bleu et Blanc finished seventh in Ligue 1 last season and could end up in a better position this time around.

Now under the management of Gary O’Neil, Strasbourg currently find themselves eighth in the Ligue 1 table. Strasbourg have picked up 46 points from 30 matches and have also reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Conference League, where they will face Spanish club Rayo Vallecano.

Strasbourg will head into the UEFA Conference League game against Rayo Vallecano this week on the back of a 3-2 victory over Lorient away from home in Ligue 1. It came after a 2-0 defeat to Nice at Stade de la Meinau in Coupe de France, which followed a 3-0 defeat to Stade Rennais in front of their fans in Ligue 1.

Team News:

Strasbourg are likely to line up in a 4-4-1-1 formation against Rayo Vallecano. Mike Penders will be in goal for the French club. Junior Mwanga, Lucas Hogsberg, Ismael Doukoure and Maximillian Oyedele will be the four defenders. Rafael Luis and Samir El Mourabet will be the two holding midfielders, with Samuel Amo-Ameyaw and Gessime Yassine playing out on the flanks. Sebastian Nanasi will be deployed in attacking midfield. Julio Enciso will lead the line for Strasbourg.

Key Factors to Consider

• Rayo Vallecano have won 2 of their last 6 La Liga matches.
• Rayo Vallecano have lost 2 of their last 6 La Liga matches.
• Strasbourg have won 3 of their last 6 Ligue 1 games.
• Strasbourg have scored 49 goals and conceded 39 goals in 30 Ligue 1 games this season.
• Strasbourg have won 13 of their 30 Ligue 1 games this season.

Conclusion

Rayo Vallecano have been a surprise in the UEFA Conference League this season, while Strasbourg are doing what many expected them to do. Playing at home will help Rayo this leg, which should end in a narrow win for the Spanish club.

Prediction: Rayo Vallecano to win 2-1

Best Odds: 15/2

Bookmaker: Zetbet