Sunday 13/04/2014, 12:30, Spain Primera Division, Round 33, Espanyol vs Rayo Vallecano

Espanyol vs Rayo Vallecano Betting Preview

Rayo Vallecano came too far to let everything go down the drain and in order to accomplish its mission this year they need at least a point in Barcelona.

Fortunately for them, they will be facing the city's lesser team and past performance suggests that Espanyol shouldn't give them a hard time. The hosts don't have to worry about anything in the remaining rounds and can simply wait patiently for the season to end.

Espanyol vs Rayo Vallecano Betting Odds

At Ladbrokes

Espanyol 1.85, Draw 3.60 Rayo Vallecano 4.20

Espanyol vs Rayo Vallecano Betting Tips

Rayo Vallecano won four games out of five until eventually succumbing to Real Madrid and they are back in the fray. Relegation is still a treat, but with a 5 points lead over Getafe, they are entitled to stay optimistic, while focusing at the task at hand.

Their counter candidates are playing against some of the best Spanish teams and are likely to lose this weekend, so a draw in Barcelona would be a success for Rayo. They have four players missing and three of them are midfielders, which means that coach Paco Jemez might have to operate some changes.

He will probably use the same starting formation that got hammered in Madrid, with Larrivey as the sole striker, knowing that Espanyol is not that deadly upfront. The main concern for the visitors is not to allow an early goal, as they will have a hard time offsetting such a handicap.

For the first time in a long time they are not sitting inside the relegation area, but this tranquility won't lead to apathy. Espanyol on the other hand has already taken its foot off gas, because it can't relegate or catch up with the teams competing for a Europa League place.

They will be without defender Hector Moreno, the only player who sustained an injury recently and will rely on the omnipresent Sergio Garcia upfront. He scored the only goal of the match against Sevilla and even though his shot didn't make a difference, it consolidated his position as the top scorer.

Key Facts

• Espanyol won a single match in over a month and scored just three goals over the span
• Rayo Vallecano will have to do without Jonathan Viera who suffered a hamstring injury and also has two players suspended, Razvan Rat and Alejandro Galvez

Espanyol vs Rayo Vallecano Betting Prediction

The bookies overwhelmingly favor Espanyol who have fewer injury concerns, a better head to head record and home pitch advantage. What they lack is motivation and they are also out of form, which makes it impractical to back the hosts at odds as low as 1.85. By contrast, there is huge value in the odds of 1.90 offered by Ladbrokes for a Rayo Vallecano win or draw.

Bet: Rayo Vallecano or Draw @ 1.90 with Ladbrokes