Rayo Vallecano vs Strasbourg Predictions

• Rayo are unbeaten in four at home, with three wins
• Rayo have won five of their six home Conference League games
• Strasbourg have three defeats in their last five overall

Rayo can seize the initiative

Rayo Vallecano will know they need to make their home advantage count in the first leg of their Conference League semi final tie with Strasbourg and they should be able to take a lead to France for the return fixture.

The La Liga club have been close to perfect at home in Europe. Rayo won their first four home games in the competition, including a qualifier, and their one defeat came against Samsunspor after they had built up a 3-1 first leg lead.

Rayo beat AEK Athens 3-0 at the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas in the previous round and have been in good form at this venue across all competitions, with three wins and a draw in their last four games.

Strasbourg won 3-2 at Lorient over the weekend but have been in mixed form in recent weeks with three defeats in their last five games. RSC lost 2-0 at Mainz in the previous round before responding with a 4-0 second leg success, and they may view a narrow defeat as a positive result given their own home record in this competition and in general.

Le Racing won all three of their league phase trips but they were handed a fairly kind draw. They were a little fortunate to win at Croatia’s Rijeka in their first knockout assignment and then came unstuck at Mainz, and Los Franjirrojos are a decent unit who are used to facing a high standard of opposition so they look capable of drawing first blood in this double header.

Strasbourg are unlikely to give much away, however, and we could be in for a cagey affair in the Puente de Vallecas district of Madrid. A 1-0 win for the hosts is the correct score pick as RSC have failed to score in three of their last five games and each of Rayo’s last five home wins have been accompanied by clean sheets. Strasbourg will probably keep their focus on defence even if they do concede, but Rayo have enough attacking quality to grind out a win and secure a slender lead.