Getafe vs Rayo Vallecano Prediction: Hosts can close gap on Europe

Tuesday afternoon sees Getafe host out of form Rayo Vallecano, with Geta currently on course for a first top half finish in La Liga since 2019. The hosts are unbeaten at the Estadio Coliseum this season, whilst Los Franjirrojos have won just once on the road in the league.

Jose Bordalas’ Getafe side increased their unbeaten streak to four games in dramatic fashion in their last match, needing a 93rd-minute penalty from Borja Mayoral to secure a 3-3 draw at Atletico Madrid before Christmas.

Meanwhile Rayo Vallecano have had a torrid end to 2023, picking up just one point in December and losing their final game of the year at home to Valencia. In fact, they failed to score a single league goal last month and only netting twice against fourth-tier side Yeclano in the Copa Del Rey.

Getafe to win to nil @ 12/5

La Liga returns for the first time of the New Year in midweek, with three fixtures on Tuesday to restart the footballing calendar in Spain. An intriguing mid-table battle between Valencia and Villarreal ends the day, whilst high-flying Real Sociedad host relegation threatened Alaves just before.

Our pick of the day’s fixtures, however, is the early kick-off, as Getafe host Francisco Rodriguez’s Rayo Vallecano in a game which could see Geta close the gap on the top six to just two points.

Recent history would suggest there is very little to choose between these two local rivals, with each of the last three meetings ending in a draw.

However, form would suggest that the home side will break this streak, especially considering The Azulones have lost just once in their last 14 games in all competitions (a 2-0 defeat at Las Palmas at the beginning of December).

Talismanic striker Borja Mayoral has been pivotal in Getafe’s ascendance up the La Liga table, with his 12 league goals second only behind Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham in the goal-scoring charts.

Mason Greenwood, on loan from Manchester United, has also played his part with seven goal contributions, including three in the last five league games.

Vallecano were unbeaten from mid-September until the fifth of November, but have since picked up just two points from their last six La Liga Games.

Although still keeping a healthy buffer of seven points above the relegation zone, the stutter in form combined with a lack of firepower up front will be of concern to Francisco Rodriguez, who took over from Andoni Iraola in the summer.

Alvaro Garcia is Rayito’s top scorer this season with four goals, whilst Bebe and Isaac Palazon are the only other players to have scored more than once in La Liga this season.

Only three teams in the league have netted fewer goals than Rayo Vallecano’s 16, whilst they also rank in the bottom half of goals conceded with 24.

Geta are favourites to win on Tuesday at 7/5, with the odds looking more favourable for the hosts to shut-out Los Franjirrojos at a tasty price of 12/5.

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