MADRID, 14 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Rayo Vallecano receives Alavés this Friday (9:00 p.m.) in the match that opens matchday 5 of LaLiga EA Sports 2023-2024, in which the Madrid team will seek to recover the good feelings of the first days, after two consecutive defeats, with what would be their first home win of the season, against an irregular Basque team that lives in the middle of the table.
Francisco Rodríguez’s team started with two great away victories against Almería and Granada, but the tough win (0-7) against Atlético de Madrid and the narrow defeat (1-0) against Betis turned the tables. Now, those from the neighborhood will have a new opportunity in front of their fans to smile again and score points.
After the surprising campaign last season, the departure of Andoni Iraola was a hard blow for the team from the strip, which is still adapting to a new style of play and changes in its squad, which lost crucial players, such as the winger Fran García or the central defender Alejandro Catena, or the midfielder Santi Comesaña.
On this fifth day, the Vallecas Stadium will host a confrontation between Rayo and Alavés, which the locals usually dominate. Of the last four games played between the two in this stadium, three of them have fallen to the red-and-white side.
The Vallecano team arrives at the duel with the doubts of Óscar Trejo, Randy N’Teka and Radamel Falcao, in addition to the fact that up to five members of the squad have been with their teams in this break, adding kilometers and fatigue. This could change the coach’s plans to manage minutes and load against Alavés.
For its part, the Basque team has started the season irregularly, despite losing to Cádiz and Getafe, two ‘direct’ rivals, they managed to beat Sevilla and Valencia, and right now they are in ninth place, as the best of the newly promoted teams.
The main doubt facing Friday arises in the defense. The young Rafa Marín seems settled in the center of the defense and, although he has just played on Monday with the U-21, he aims to be permanent. Thus, problems arise in the other profile, where the Serbian Aleksander Sedlar and the Moroccan Abdel Aqlar are in discomfort.
In the physical game of Luis García’s team, the winger Luis Rioja is being one of the most decisive players in the League, he is the third player who has created the most chances, something that his best partner, a Kike García based in the tip of attack. In addition, the young Samu Omorodion could enter, due to his power and forcefulness.
The game will be a fight of styles, with two very physical teams, but the atmosphere and drive of the Rayista fans could be key to the future of the duel. In front, a young and cheeky babazorro team that wants to return from Vallecas with points.
–LALIGA EA SPORTS DAY 5 PROGRAM.
-Friday, September 15.
Rayo Vallecano – Alavés. García Verdura (C. Catalan) 21.00.
-Saturday 16.
Athletic – Cadiz. Cuadra Fernández (Balearic Islands) 14.00.
Valencia- Atlético de Madrid. Gil Manzano (C. Extremeño) 16.15.
Celtic – Mallorca. Munuera Montero (C. Andaluz) 18.30.
Barcelona – Real Betis. Sánchez Martínez (C. Murciano)21.00.
-Domingo 17.
Getafe – Osasuna. Hernández Hernández (C. Las Palmas) 2:00 p.m.
Villarreal – Almeria. Hernández Maeso (C. Extremo)16.15.
Seville – Las Palmas. Martínez Munuera (C. Valenciano) 18.30.
Real Madrid – Real Sociedad. Soto Grado (C. Riojano) 21.00.
-Monday 18.
Granada – Girona. Díaz de Mera Escuderos (C. Castellano-La Mancha) 21.00.