Rayo’s 1-0 win at Villarreal kept them within striking distance of the European qualification places, and with the transfer window now shut, they can focus on targeting a first top-half finish since 2012/13.
Rayo Vallecano
Now at the halfway stage of their La Liga campaigns, both Rayo Vallecano and Almeria would have likely accepted their current positions had they been offered them at the start of the season. Rayo’s 1-0 win at Villarreal kept them within striking distance of the European qualification places, and with the transfer window now shut, they can focus on targeting a first top-half finish since 2012/13. They’ve been at their best on the road recently, though, as since beating Real Madrid 1-0 here in early November, Los Franjirrojos haven’t won a home league fixture, which might lead to some nervous exchanges after losing a second-tier H2H here 1-0 two seasons ago. The last five H2Hs here produced an average of just 1.4 goals per game, though, so a cagey affair could be on the cards.
Almeria
Almeria do have goals in them, as they proved when beating Espanyol 3-1 last time out to stretch their unbeaten run to three league matches. They sit just three points clear of the relegation zone after the last round, so as 3-1 was also the scoreline by which they beat Rayo in October, they could sense a chance to increase that gap here. However, they’re one of two sides still to win a league-away game this term, and those struggles on the road could eventually drag them closer to the bottom three. Los Rojiblancos showed plenty of resilience in their last La Liga road trip, coming twice from behind to draw 2-2 with Valencia, so they shouldn’t be taken lightly here.
Sergio Camello netted Vallecano’s winner against Villarreal with his fifth league goal of the season, four of which were his side’s first of the game. Meanwhile, Almeria’s Leo Baptistao could get one over his former club by scoring, as all three of his La Liga goals this term contributed to victories. The away side on the day hasn’t scored before half-time in any of the last five H2Hs.