Rayo Vallecano face Recreativo Huelva this Tuesday in the Copa del Rey round of 128. The match will be played at the Nuevo Colombino Stadium at 21:00 local time, with the Madrid side looking for a boost after a tough spell in the league, where they sit 17th with nine points from two wins, three draws and four losses.
Their star forward, Sergio Camello, is the team's top scorer with seven goals in ten appearances, a statistic that will be key to overcoming lower-league opposition. The team has scored twelve league goals but conceded twenty, giving them a goal difference of minus eight.
Match preview
The starting XI from the Elche match, featuring Audero; Balliu, Lejeune, Mujaid, Pedrosa; Díaz, Ciss, Unai López; De Frutos, Camello and Álvaro García, could see some rotation. The Copa del Rey often provides a chance to give minutes to squad players, though the need to build momentum may take precedence. Their next league fixture is at home to Celta Vigo, who are ninth in the table, on Saturday 31 October.
Recreativo, a historic club from the Segunda Federación, will be a tricky opponent on their own ground. For Rayo, this match is a perfect opportunity to break their poor run and build some morale. The squad needs a positive result to serve as a springboard for the second part of the league season, where the immediate goal is to climb out of the relegation places. Their recent form over the last five league games, with one win, three draws and one loss, includes the 1-1 draw with Getafe and the 0-0 stalemate with Athletic Club, but also the heavy 4-1 defeat to Real Madrid.
