La Liga | Gameweek 15

Dec 1, 2024 at 5.30pm UK

Estadio de Vallecas

Rayo Vallecanovs.Athletic Bilbao

Match preview

Rayo have had a pretty average season so far, with four wins, four draws and five losses in their 13 La Liga matches. They've picked up 16 points, which puts them in 13th place in the table, six points above the relegation zone.

The capital team are on a disappointing run of form in the league, losing three of their last four, including their last two against Las Palmas and Sevilla. They haven't won in La Liga since a home game with Alavés on 26 October.

Inigo Pérez's side are doing well in the Copa del Rey. They beat Villamuriel in their 2024-25 opener at the end of October, and they'll play Unionistas de Salamanca next week.

Rayo will be keen to end 2024 on a high in La Liga. They're looking to improve on their disappointing 2023-24 campaign, where they finished in 17th place.

The Madrid club have picked up eight points from their six home league matches this season, while Athletic have collected eight points from their six La Liga away matches in 2024-25.

Athletic will be going into Sunday's game on the back of a 3-0 win against Elfsborg in the Europa League. This result has left them in second place in the overall table, having picked up 13 points from their five matches in the competition this term.

The Lions also beat Real Sociedad 1-0 in last weekend's Basque derby. Oihan Sancet scored the only goal of the game in the 26th minute. Since the start of October, Ernesto Valverde's side has been unbeaten in all competitions.

They've had a pretty good run in La Liga this season, with six wins, five draws and three losses. That's brought them to 23 points, which is enough for fifth spot in the table, only two points behind fourth-placed Villarreal.

Athletic are hoping to challenge Villarreal and Girona for a top-four spot this term, and they're also in with a shout of winning the Europa League.

The Lions haven't lost to Rayo in the Spanish top flight since September 2021. They also won both league matches between the two sides in 2023-24, including a 1-0 success in the corresponding fixture in Madrid.

Recent Performance

Rayo Vallecano La Liga form:DWLWLL

Rayo Vallecano form (all competitions):WLWWLL

Athletic Bilbao La Liga form:LWDDDW

Athletic Bilbao form (all competitions):DDWDWW

Team News

Rayo will be without Unai Lopez on Sunday due to suspension. The midfielder picked up a booking in his side's 1-0 defeat to Sevilla at Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán last weekend.

So it looks like there'll be a spot in the side for Pathe Ciss, but Perez is expected to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack despite the disappointment of the result last time out.

There might be one more change, too, in the final third of the field, with Sergio Camello possibly replacing Randy Nteka.

Athletic will be without Benat Prados for this game due to suspension. The midfielder picked up a milestone yellow card in the narrow success over Real Sociedad last weekend.

This means there could be a spot in midfield for Mikel Jauregizar, while Álvaro Djalo, Óscar de Marcos and Yeray Álvarez should also be back in action after starting on the bench in the Europa League last time out.

Possible starting lineup

Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:

Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mumin, Chavarria; Gumbau, Valentin, Ciss; De Frutos, Camello, A Garcia

Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:

Simon; De Marcos, Vivian, Yeray, Yuri; Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar; I Williams, Sancet, N Williams; Djalo