Las Palmas vs Rayo Majadahonda Predictions

Even after their victory at this venue last weekend, Las Palmas have zero chance of making the play-offs, though they’ll surely be keen to continue moving in the right direction. If they can set the tone for by putting together a winning run between now and the end of the campaign, the side from Gran Canaria can begin to challenge for promotion next season.

Las Palmas haven’t been great this season, there can be no getting away from that fact, though their efforts at home have been pleasing, especially from a defensive point of view. Sunday’s hosts have lost just three times at Estadio Gran Canaria, while they’ve conceded a very respectable total of just 15 goals. What’s more, they’ve notched 28, which is a total that can only be bettered by four of the other 21 teams in the division.

In addition to their rather pleasing home record, Las Palmas come into this match off the back of two commanding wins at this venue. They battered Lugo, who’re currently level on points with Rayo, by four goals to one, while they made light work of seeing off Cordoba last time out in front of a home crowd. In both of those games, they gave little away, surrendering just 0.53 and 0.98 expected goals.

Giving little away has been a habit of Las Palmas’ at home this season, as they’ve surrendered an average of just 0.79 goals and 0.73 expected goals. In contrast, Rayo have struggled to create more than they’ve conceded on their travels.

Away from home this season, Sunday’s visitors have struggled to be at their best. They’ve won just four times on the road, losing 12 of their other 15 travelling matches. During that time, they’ve shipped a chunky 31 goals and have scored just 18. They average 1.14 expected goals for and 1.31 against. Such numbers don’t exactly bode well ahead of a match against a Las Palmas side that have been strong at home.

In addition, Rayo come into this match having lost each of their last two, both of which saw them concede at least twice, while they surrender expected goals figures of 1.75 and 1.91.

When we consider Las Palmas’ strong home form in conjunction with both Rayo’s recent defensive efforts on the road and their lack of both goals and creativity away from home in general it becomes somewhat easy to support the hosts.