Rayo Vallecano are aiming for a reaction at home against Espanyol on Tuesday to climb away from the lower reaches of the table. The Madrid side are coming off a heavy 4-1 defeat at the Bernabéu and sit 16th with just four points from a possible fifteen. According to official data, their recent form is one win, one draw and three losses.
Facing Espanyol provides an immediate chance to bounce back. Their last trip to the RCDE Stadium ended in a 1-0 defeat last December. Now, with home advantage, Rayo hope to change an inconsistent run. Following this match, Rayo's next fixture is against Espanyol.
Goalkeeper headache
The main issue for the coaching staff is the long-term absence of goalkeeper Augusto Batalla. His injury leaves Elia Audero as the likely starter after playing against Real Madrid. The defence is also missing Jozhua Vertrouwd and Luiz Felipe, both sidelined with muscle issues. Forward Randy Nteka completes the injury list, with all three expected back around the end of the month. The full squad status is available on our injuries page.
Camello the attacking example
In attack, the main threat is Sergio Camello. The Madrid-born striker already has six goals in five appearances this season, including a brace in the win over Racing Santander and Rayo's lone goal at the Bernabéu. His link-up with Unai López, who provided two assists in that match, will be key to breaking down an Espanyol defence in good form.
Espanyol arrive after a 0-2 away win at Osasuna and sit eighth. Their manager is likely to field a compact unit with M. Dmitrović in goal and Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández up front. Rayo will hope to replicate the attacking spirit they showed against Santander, where they came back from 0-2 down to win 3-2. The match kicks off at 19:00 local time on Tuesday at the Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas. The team's full schedule can be found on our fixtures page.
