La Liga preview and odds: Athletic Club vs Rayo Vallecano

Published on: 06/04/2016

La Liga preview and odds: Athletic Club vs Rayo Vallecano

April 10, 2016 20:30pm - San Mames Barria

La Liga

Two clubs with very different goals will go head-to-head this weekend when La Liga stalwarts Athletic Club welcome low-budget Rayo Vallecano to San Mames.

Athletic in Euro hunt

Athletic Club de Bilbao are on a mission to secure European football next season and need a top-six finish to achieve their goal. They are currently sat in sixth-place, level on points with seventh-ranked Sevilla, with Celta de Vigo just one point above them in fifth.

As well as trying to qualify for Europe next term, Ernesto Valverde`s men are still involved in this season`s Europa League campaign where they have reached the quarter-final stages.

They come into this game on the back of a 1-1 draw at home to Granada in the league. Prior to that, they were beaten 2-1 away to Espanyol.

Rayo fighting for survival again

Rayo Vallecano`s annual battle for survival will continue this weekend when they go in search of their first away win since September. Remarkably, the club from Madrid has drawn five of their last six away games 2-2 with the only exception being a 2-1 defeat to Espanyol.

Despite, their lack of away wins, Paco Jemezs side have scored at least one goal in their last 10 away games, and have only failed to score on the road twice all season.

They come into this game unbeaten in three and in the back of a 2-0 home win against relegation rivals Getafe. That victory lifted Rayo to 16th place in the table, three points clear of the drop zone.

Team news

The home side`s sick list features the names of Sabin, Aymeric Laporte, Eraso, Iker Muniain and Ibai.

Meanwhile, Yoel is suspended for the visitors, who also have Jozabed, Piti, David Cobeno, Razvan Rat and Tono Rodriguez on the side-lines.

Recent form (League)

Athletic Club: DLWWW

Rayo Vallecano: WDDLL

Betting odds and tips

Rayo have drawn five of their last six away and may just grab another stalemate on Sunday against an Athletic side weary from their European excursions.

You can back the Draw at 3/1, or the Draw and Both Teams to Score at 4/1 with Bet365.

By Neil Morris

Published on: 06/04/2016

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (06/04/2016 19:32:48) but are subject to change.