On Sunday afternoon, Alaves and Rayo Vallecano go head-to-head at the Estadio de Mendizorroza in what could be a vital game in the fight for La Liga survival.
Defeat at Osasuna continued their winless run for AlavesA 1-0 defeat at Osasuna last time out in the Spanish top-flight means that Alaves have failed to win in their previous five games in La Liga. The defeat ended a run of three straight draws in the Liga.
The game followed a familiar low-scoring trend for the home team, as it was their fourth consecutive game in La Liga to produce under 2.5 goals.
Despite Alaves’ recent winless run, Luis Garcia’s team is still ten points clear of the relegation zone.
The Basque team has a poor recent home record in La Liga, winning just one of their last six games on home soil. Their recent matches at the Mendizorroza in the Spanish top-flight have been low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in five of their last six games.
Rayo on an eight-game winless runThe visitors go into this encounter on the back of an eight-game winless run in the Spanish top-flight. Last time out, they drew 1-1 at home against Cadiz.
Inigo Perez’s team is currently in 16th place in the table, seven points clear of the league’s bottom three. They need to start winning if they are to avoid being dragged into the fight for survival.
The Cadiz game was another low-scoring La Liga game for Rayo, as eight of their last 12 matches have produced under 2.5 goals.
The club from the Spanish capital has been poor on their travels of late in La Liga. They have failed to win in four away games and have suffered three consecutive losses.
What am I backing?Both teams have been short of confidence, and this could be a cagey affair. This game is unlikely to be goal-filled, so the bet I am backing is under 2.5 goals scored.