Sevilla has secured two consecutive wins away at Girona and Alavés, but at home, they have only managed to secure one point from three games. This paradoxical record now faces Rayo Vallecano, who are ranked 14th in the table and are looking to make amends after their bitter 2-3 defeat to Atlético Madrid. The hosts let the victory slip away despite taking the lead twice through Chavarría and García, while Matías Almeyda will field Alexis Sánchez in the starting lineup for the first time with his 12th-placed FC Sevilla. The head-to-head record speaks for itself: Rayo has been waiting for a win against the Andalusians for five games, with the last encounter in March ending in a 1-1 draw. Interestingly, the betting market still sees the visitors at a clear disadvantage, an indication of their traditionally difficult away record in Vallecas. Abdul Mumin is still missing for Rayo, while Almeyda has to do without Nianzou and Joan Jordán.
- Venue: Campo de Futbol de Vallecas, Madrid
- Date and time: 09/28/2025, 2:00 p.m.
- Competition: Primera División (Matchday 7)
Rayo form & record check
Rayo Vallecano’s current form has been mixed. With only five points from six games, the team is in 14th place in the table, level on points with Celta Vigo and only two points behind Osasuna. The recent 3-2 defeat to Atlético Madrid was symptomatic of their current form: despite leading 2-1 after 76 minutes, the team was unable to hold on for the win. Chavarría scored a spectacular long-range shot to make it 1-1, García put Rayo ahead, but Julián Álvarez turned the game around with a hat-trick.
A clear pattern emerges from the statistics: Rayo has not won the first half in any of its last five league games, but the team has scored in the second half in four of those five encounters. The 1-1 draw against Celta was another example of how the team fights hard but ultimately drops points. The previous 2-0 defeat in Pamplona against Osasuna underscored this problem. Coach Iñigo Pérez can rely on a relatively stable defense, even without the long-term injured Mumin. On a positive note, the team is returning to Europe after UEFA gave the green light for Vallecas to host Conference League matches.
Coach Iñigo Pérez is likely to field his tried-and-tested 4-4-2 formation. No major changes are expected after the intense match against Atlético Madrid. Batalla will be in goal, while the defensive line is likely to consist of Balliu, Lejeune, Vertrouwd, and Chavarría. The midfield could consist of Ratiu, Valentín, López, and Fran Pérez. Abdul Mumin is still out with a cruciate ligament injury, so Vertrouwd is likely to start at center back. Palazón and Alemão could form the two strikers in attack after both recently put in convincing performances.
Sevilla Form & Record Check
FC Sevilla has had an inconsistent season so far, which is particularly reflected in their home record. With seven points from six games, Matías Almeyda’s team is in 12th place in the table, with the recent defeat against Villarreal (1-2) typical of their current form. Despite a respectable performance and Sow’s equalizer, the Andalusians paid dearly for their tactical rotations.
Sevilla is performing much better away than at home. The two recent away wins against Girona (2-0) and Alavés (1-2) show a team that is more stable away from the Sánchez-Pizjuán. In Vitoria, it was Alexis Sánchez who scored the decisive goal after coming on as a substitute. Vargas remains an important factor in the offensive play and was even nominated for LaLiga Player of the Month. The home record, on the other hand, is cause for concern: only one point from three home games, with the draw against Elche (2-2) and defeats against Getafe (1-2) and Villarreal highlighting the problems. Almeyda faces the challenge of resolving this discrepancy between home and away form, with his rotation policy continuing to cause debate.
The coach could opt for his preferred three-man defense against Rayo Vallecano, even though the personnel situation in defense remains tense. Tanguy Nianzou is still out after his muscle injury in the Villarreal game. Kike Salas has not been training with the group recently, which means Fábio Cardoso could make his debut. Alexis Sánchez is likely to start up front for the first time. The Chilean has made a strong case for a place in the starting lineup after his impressive cameo against Alavés. Isaac Romero would play as the central striker, while Rubén Vargas could take over on the right after his goal in Vitoria. In midfield, Sow and Gudelj seem to be the established duo.
H2H Rayo – Sevilla Head-to-head & statistics
The recent record between the two teams shows a clear imbalance in favor of Sevilla. In the last five meetings, Rayo Vallecano has not managed a single win, while the Andalusians have come out on top twice and three games have ended in draws. The most recent duel in March 2025 ended in a 1-1 draw, after Sevilla had previously won 1-0 away in November 2024.
A striking pattern in this series is the goal-scoring reliability of both teams. Sevilla has scored at least one goal in all five encounters, while Rayo has also scored in four of the five games. At the same time, the hosts have conceded at least one goal in each of these matches, highlighting their defensive problems against this opponent. The games have mostly been high-scoring affairs, but rarely more than three goals have been scored. Both teams regularly find the back of the net without it turning into a real goal fest.
Sevilla scored in both halves in four of five encounters, while Rayo remained offensive despite mixed results. The absence of center back Abdul Mumin for the hosts and Nianzou’s absence in Sevilla’s defense further suggest a high-scoring game.
Both teams to score at 1.91 looks attractive, especially as Sevilla have a 100% scoring record but have also conceded in 80% of their games. Rayo have scored in four of their last five games and are benefiting from Álvaro García’s return from the reserves, while Rubén Vargas is in top form for Sevilla and is a candidate for player of the month. A Sevilla win at 4.0 may seem risky, but recent away wins against Girona and Alavés, as well as Alexis Sánchez’s new leadership role in attack, suggest otherwise. The betting markets see Rayo as clear favorites at 2.0, even though the visitors have taken only one point from their last three league games, while Sevilla have won their last two away games.
