Rayo Vallecano vs Levante UD Prediction: Back the hosts’ to win the second half

| Monday 16th March 2026, 8:42am

Monday 16th March 2026, 8:42am

We have a relegation battle on Monday night in La Liga as Levante travel to Real Vallecano, with both sides battling to avoid the drop. Premier Sports 1 will be showing the match live in the UK, with kick-off set for 20:00.

Our Spanish Football tipster Mark Sochon brings us the Team News, Match Odds and his two Best Bets for the encounter. Let's check out his Rayo Vallecano vs Levante UD Predictions here on Betfred Insights...

Rayo Vallecano vs Levante Betting Tips

Highest scoring half - Second half @ 23/20
Rayo Vallecano or Draw & Rayo Vallecano over 15.5 shots @ 10/11 via Bet Builder

*odds correct at time of publication

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Two teams in La Liga's bottom six clash at the Estadio de Vallecas, with Rayo Vallecano hoping to put distance between themselves and a relegation zone that contains Levante.

With even bottom club Real Oviedo picking up their fourth win of the season on Saturday, it is shaping up to be quite a scrap for safety in the Spanish top flight. Rayo's performance levels suggest they are far from one of the three worst teams in the league, but they do struggle to convert chances, with only three clubs scoring fewer goals.

Iñigo Pérez's side also have European distractions, and it could turn into a difficult balancing act for the Rayo boss. The Madrid-based outfit have only played continental football on one occasion previously, so they'll be keen to advance as far as possible in the Conference League, with a quarter-final place already all but guaranteed after a 3-1 win in Turkey against Samsunspor on Thursday.

The much-maligned Alemão, who has only scored once in 16 league appearances having been signed as the answer to their striker problems, bagged a brace in that game. However, winger Jorge de Frutos has now established himself in the centre-forward role in this Rayo side, and he's having an impressive campaign with 10 strikes in 25 La Liga appearances.

The hosts are on a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions. That period has coincided with huge problems with the pitch at the Estadio de Vallecas. February's home match against Oviedo was postponed, while they were forced to entertain Atlético Madrid at Leganés' Estadio Butarque, in a game Rayo surprisingly went on to win 3-0.

There have only been five league wins all season for Levante. An immediate return to the Segunda División still looks by far the most likely outcome for the Valencia club. However, they have not been cut adrift yet, and four points from their last two matches suggest there is still some fight left in Luís Castro's team.

There was late drama in each of those games. Carlos Espí came off the bench to score 88th and 97th-minute goals to secure a 2-0 victory over fellow strugglers Alavés.

The young forward was rewarded with a start at home against Girona last time out, and he netted again to leave the Granotes 1-0 up heading into stoppage time. However, the visitors salvaged what could prove a costly late equaliser as far as Levante are concerned.

Espí's ability to find the back of the net has certainly been welcome given a number of selection issues, and the poor form of fellow forwards Karl Etta Eyong and Isaac Romero. Not since Etta Eyong's goal against Mallorca way back in October have either of those players scored in La Liga.

Team News:

Rayo are in relatively good shape on the selection front, with long-term absentee Diego Méndez and midfielder Pathé Ciss their only fitness concerns.

Some changes are expected from Pérez following a long Conference League trip on Thursday night. However, this game should take priority over the second leg against Samsunspor, with key players such as De Frutos and Florian Lejeune expected to start.

There are some significant absentees for Levante, who are missing Adrián de la Fuente and Jon Ander Olasagasti to suspensions. They are also without the injured trio of Roger Brugué, Pablo Martínez and Carlos Álvarez, while Unai Elgezabal is rated doubtful.

In-form Espí is expected to get the nod up top again, while Kervin Arriaga and Alan Matturro are the most obvious candidates to replace the suspended duo.

Real Madrid vs Elche CF Lineups (Predicted)

Rayo Vallecano: Batalla, Ratiu, Lejeune, Mendy, Espino, Valentin, Gumbau, Martin, Diaz, A. Garcia, De Frutos
Levante UD: Ryan, Toljan, Matturro, Moreno, Sanchez, Arriaga, Rey, V. Garcia, Romero, Cortes, Espi

Match Odds:

Rayo Vallecano are the 4/6 favourites to win this match, while you can back the Draw at 11/4. Levante are given a 4/1 chance of picking up what would be a massive three points on the road.

The hosts are priced at 13/8 to win the game to nil, while they're on offer at 4/5 to score over 1.5 goals. They can also be backed to win both halves at odds of 10/3.

You can back both teams to score at 10/11. The visitors are given an 8/13 chance of scoring over 0.5 goals, while Levante to win either half is on offer at 13/8.

De Frutos is the leading candidate as a Goalscorer bet. He's sure to rotate in after being rested in Europe and is given a 3/1 chance of scoring the game's first goal. You can also back the 29-year-old to score anytime against his old club at odds of 19/20.

Fran Pérez could also benefit from the home team's rotation, and he's given a 9/4 chance of getting on the scoresheet. Meanwhile, Espí is priced at 17/2 to score first, and 3/1 to score anytime for the visitors.

*You can bet on this match and check out of the latest and live Rayo Vallecano vs Levante UD Odds over on betfred.com

Rayo Vallecano vs Levante UD Stats

Rayo Vallecano (280) have drawn the second-fewest fouls in La Liga - behind only Atlético Madrid (261).
The home side have been shown 73 yellow cards this season, good for third most in the league.
Levante have only had 88 shots on target, third-fewest in La Liga.
The visitors' also have the second-worst percentage for Shots on Target at just 29.3%

Bet 1 - Highest scoring half - Second half @ 23/20

Rayo Vallecano may leave one or two of their better attacking players on the bench as Pérez juggles a busy schedule. Those should feature in the second half, and there's every prospect of this game opening up after the interval, given Levante also really need to chase victories at this point in the campaign.

Draws will not be enough to keep Castro's men in the division, and late strikes have been a feature of their recent matches. Four of the last five goals scored in Levante fixtures have gone in after the 80th minute.

Both teams have been more vulnerable defensively in the second half this term in La Liga. 64% of the goals Rayo have conceded have come after the interval, while the same is true of 60% of Levante's goals against.

Given that, I'm backing the second half to be the highest-scoring half in this match at odds of 23/20.

Bet 2 - Rayo Vallecano or Draw & Rayo Vallecano over 15.5 shots @ 10/11

Shooting from range has been a regular feature of Rayo Vallecano's approach, even dating back to Andoni Iraola's time at the club. That has continued this season, with their average of 15.4 attempts per home game, the fifth-highest figure in the league. Up against the club that's just one place off the bottom of the Spanish top flight, they look good to surpass that figure here.

While they have drawn a few too many, Pérez's team have only lost two of their 17 home fixtures this season in all competitions. They're a match for anyone on their own ground, and I'm using the Bet Builder to back Rayo Vallecano to win or draw and Rayo Vallecano to have over 15.5 shots at 10/11.

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You can check out Mark's Football Betting Tips along with those from the rest of the Betfred Insights Spanish Football writers on our La Liga home page...