Atletico Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano Prediction: BTTS looks a sensible selection

Atletico Madrid will look to turn their La Liga fortunes around on Wednesday (20:30 BST, Premier Sports 1) as they welcome Rayo Vallecano to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. The hosts have won just one of their five matches to date this season.

The visitors are in the same position themselves. My Atletico Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano predictions can be found below, supported by the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Atletico remain without the services of Jose Maria Gimenez (hamstring), Alex Baena (appendicitis) and Thiago Almada (muscle) through injury, but Julian Alvarez was back in the side against Mallorca following a knee issue.

Fellow forward Alexander Sorloth was sent off in that match, and the Norway international will miss this clash through suspension.

Midfielder Conor Gallagher could potentially be introduced in a wide area having scored in the last match against Mallorca, while Antoine Griezmann is an option to aid the attack, but it is expected that Giacomo Raspadori will start in the final third despite a slow start to life in Madrid.

Football Odds

Abdul Mumin (ACL) remains unavailable for selection for Rayo through injury, while Luiz Felipe is a major doubt to feature on Wednesday. Nobel Mendy and Fran Perez were both back on the bench against Celta Vigo last time out, and both could be considered for starts here.

There are unlikely to be changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle last time out, with Jorge de Frutos and Alvaro Garcia set to operate on the flanks once again.

Sergio Camello has netted once in six appearances this season, but there is likely to be another spot in the final third of the field for the 24-year-old, despite his slow start to the campaign.

Today's Football Fixtures

Atletico Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano Odds

Atletico have won six of their previous eight home games in La Liga and they are 1/2 to defeat Rayo on Wednesday.

The hosts have beaten the visitors at home in three of the last four meetings. Two of them came with a clean sheet and Atleti are 5/4 (implied probability of 44.4%) to win to nil.

The other meeting was a draw and the stalemate is marketed at 16/5.

Rayo are 6/1 to come away with the three points.

Both teams to score @ 1/1

Diego Simeone will be slightly concerned with how Atletico have started the new season, with just one win from their opening five matches. They have only lost once, though, meaning they have experienced three draws - so the hosts need to find a way of turning those points into three.

Rayo at home gives them a chance to put a second win on the board, and it will help their cause knowing their visitors are yet to win a La Liga fixture on their travels in 2025/26.

Given the form of both clubs, a result feels tough to call here, but I think we could see the net bulge at both ends. Both teams to score looks a smart selection because there have been goals at both ends in four of the previous six league meetings between the two sides.

Additionally, Atletico have seen BTTS strike in five of their six games in all competitions this term.

Half-time result - Atletico Madrid @ 1/1

I'm not overly confident in the hosts taking the three points here based on recent results, but I do think they can set the tempo in the match, and likely gain a half-time lead.

After digging into recent head-to-head clashes with Rayo, I found that this has been a winning selection in each of the previous four clashes at the Metropolitano. Atleti were also the first-half winners in their most recent home clash against Villarreal - winning the game 2-0.

I think EVS is a good price for this to strike again in a fixture where this market has been a consistent trend in recent years.

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