Villarreal Hosts Rayo Vallecano in Exciting La Liga Clash

VILLARREAL, Spain — Villarreal will aim for its fourth consecutive La Liga win when it hosts Rayo Vallecano this Saturday at Estadio de la Cerámica. The match, part of Match Day 11, kicks off at 1 p.m. UK time.

Currently sitting third in the league, Villarreal has collected 20 points from 10 matches, trailing leaders Real Madrid by seven points. In their last outing, Villarreal secured a decisive 6-0 victory over Ciudad de Lucena in the Copa del Rey.

Villarreal manager Quique Setién‘s side boasts a solid league record. With six wins, two draws, and two losses thus far, they are looking to solidify their place in the top four. Last weekend, they also defeated Valencia 2-0 in La Liga.

On the other hand, Rayo Vallecano is making a strong showing this season. Currently in seventh place with 14 points, they recently earned victories against Real Sociedad, Levante, and Alaves. Rayo secured a 6-1 win over CD Yuncos in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.

The last encounter between Villarreal and Rayo Vallecano ended in a narrow 1-0 victory for Villarreal in February. However, Rayo managed to draw 1-1 at Estadio de la Cerámica last season, indicating they can compete strongly against Villarreal.

Injury concerns affect both sides ahead of the matchup. Villarreal will be without players Logan Costa, Willy Kambwala, and Pau Cabanes due to injury. Gerard Moreno, who scored against Valencia, is expected to start, while Tanitoluwa Oluwaseyi, who scored a hat trick in the Copa del Rey, will likely return to the bench.

Rayo will miss key player Santi Comesaña through injury, but expect top scorer Alemao, who has netted seven goals this season, to lead their attack. Luiz Felipe is a major doubt for the match.

The upcoming match promises to be competitive, with Villarreal looking to leverage home advantage against a confident Rayo Vallecano side. With both teams in good form, fans can expect an exciting clash this weekend.