Getafe vs Rayo Vallecano Predictions

This is the latest in a long list of Madrid derbies this season in La Liga. Getafe and Rayo Vallecano have very different priorities heading into this Saturday’s match. The hosts are making a strong push for European football, while the only objective for Rayo is to stay in the top flight in their first season back at this level.

This is Rayo’s 3rd derby clash in the space of 4 matches. The other two were both at home and both ended in agonising defeats, with Atletico and Leganes scoring late goals to seal narrow wins at Vallecas. Rayo weren’t terrible at all against Atletico Madrid last time out but they have slipped back down to 19th and this is the time in the season when results are far more important than performances.

Getafe are certainly in the results business. Their fairly direct and often aggressive style doesn’t win them many friends in Spain but it has been very effective for Jose Bordalas and his side ever since they won promotion to the Primera Division in 2017. Victory here would see them move into the Champions League places for a few hours at least and with 4th placed Sevilla up against Barcelona, there’s a good chance they would stay there.

Overall, a home victory looks the most likely outcome here. Rayo hit some real form in January but all the momentum has gone after 3 straight defeats. It’s not quite back to square one as they are in touching distance of safety still but they’ve been losing tight games of late. They have also lost 64% of their away league matches this season and that figure could well increase here.

Getafe are a side that is perhaps now reaping the benefits of their dramatic late Copa del Rey exit to Valencia in the Quarter-Finals. They wouldn’t have felt like that at the time after conceding twice in Stoppage Time to go out and they really lost their rag at the end, with two players sent off for the second match running. It was always going to be interesting to see their response to that and it has been good, despite a few suspensions. They are unbeaten in 3 outings in La Liga since that crazy cup tie at the Mestalla and they’ve been going very well at home of late.

Getafe have won their last 4 matches at the Coliseum and 7 of their last 8 at home in all competitions. Against their struggling local rivals who they beat earlier in the season, going for Getafe to Win looks like the smart move.

Backing Jaime Mata to Score Anytime could also be worth a punt. He is starting to really find his feet at this level now with 5 goals in his last 5 appearances in La Liga.