Atlético Madrid take on Rayo Vallecano in Madrid derby.
Rayo Vallecano vs
Atlético Madrid
As Rayo Vallecano prepare to host Atlético de Madrid at Estadio de Vallecas, a challenging encounter awaits the Red Sashes, who are eager to build on their recent comeback victory and James Rodríguez's debut against a formidable Atlético side aiming to continue their La Liga dominance and extend their impressive winning streak.
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano have experienced mixed results in their 2024-2025 La Liga campaign, with a record of wins, draws, and losses. They have picked up seven points out of a possible 15. Currently, Rayo sit 9th in the league standings, just one point behind eighth-placed Mallorca, who have played an extra game.
Their campaign began with a 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad, followed by a goalless draw against Getafe. However, subsequent back-to-back defeats came at the hands of Barcelona and Espanyol, losing 2-1 and 3-1 respectively. Most recently, Rayo displayed a strong performance against Osasuna, securing a 3-1 comeback win at the Vallecas.
In that match, new signing James Rodríguez made a brief cameo following his free transfer move from São Paulo FC. Despite a slow start and trailing by a goal, Rayo turned the game around with a stunning strike from Abdul Mumin five minutes into the second half. Andrei Rațiu’s deflected effort soon put them ahead, and substitute Unai López sealed the victory in stoppage time.
Rayo manager Iñigo Pérez expressed delight over James’ debut, suggesting he could start playing more regularly. This weekend's clash against Atlético Madrid presents a significant challenge for Rayo. A win is possible, though they haven’t defeated Atlético in their last 14 league encounters. James Rodríguez might earn his first start in a 4-4-2 formation, pairing with Sergio Camello up front.
Atlético Madrid
Atlético Madrid are coming off a thrilling 2-1 victory in their UEFA Champions League opener against Leipzig. They found themselves trailing early after Benjamin Šeško's header, but Antoine Griezmann restored parity before the half-hour mark. Just as it seemed they would settle for a draw, a stoppage-time cross from Griezmann found José María Giménez, securing the dramatic win.
Diego Simeone expressed his satisfaction, saying, "I'm totally satisfied." Back to domestic action, Atlético will aim to extend their winning streak in the league as they travel to face Rayo Vallecano this weekend. They have won their last two La Liga games, including a commanding 3-0 victory against Valencia, which placed them second on the table.
Atlético have been dominant on their last five visits to Vallecas, securing wins each time. Notably, they achieved a 7-0 demolition of Rayo last season, which stands as their biggest away win in the league. As they aim to replicate this success, a 3-4-1-2 formation is expected, with Griezmann and Alexander Sørloth leading the attack.
