Valencia vs Rayo Vallecano Prediction: Sadiq to strike again

Valencia and Rayo Vallecano sit 13th and 11th, respectively, in La Liga, but neither team is mathematically safe from relegation yet, with 18th-placed Levante just three and four points behind Los Che and Los Franjirrojos.

Below are my Valencia vs Rayo Vallecano predictions, together with all the latest team news and match odds, ahead of Thursday’s game at the Estadio de Mestalla (18:00 BST, Premier Sports 1).

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New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Team News

Jose Copete (ankle), Dimitri Foulquier, Lucas Beltran (both knee), Mouctar Diakhaby (muscle) and Thierry Rendall (hamstring) all look set to miss out on Thursday for Valencia.

Football Odds

As for Rayo Vallecano, Diego Mendez (knee), Ilias Akhomach (muscle) and Luiz Felipe (hamstring) are in the treatment room, while Isi Palazon is suspended.

Valencia vs Rayo Vallecano Odds

Valencia, who have won two of their last three games, are 5/4 favourites on Thursday, implying a 44.4% probability of success, with Rayo Vallecano 9/4, or a 30.8% chance, and the draw the same price (9/4).

Betfred’s Price Boosts include Valencia to Win, Valencia Most Corners & Valencia Most Shots on Target at 6/1 (was 5/1).

Anytime Goalscorer - Umar Sadiq (VAL) @ 9/5

Umar Sadiq failed to score in any of his five La Liga appearances for Real Sociedad this season before leaving on loan in January for Valencia, where he spent the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, netting five times in 16 league games.

The 29-year-old has caught fire again with Los Che, scoring six goals in 19 matches, including four in 17 league outings.

Today's Football Fixtures

Sadiq only struck once in his first 13 La Liga games this season for Valencia, but he's notched in three of his last four, grabbing the only goal in last Sunday's 1-0 win at Athletic.

The Nigeria international has form in this fixture, coming off the bench to score the equaliser in Valencia's 1-1 draw at Rayo in April last year, and at 9/5, he's good value to strike for the fourth time in his last five matches.

Bet Builder - Under 2.5 Goals & Renzo Saravia (VAL) 2+ Tackles @ 13/8

Only Getafe (74%) have seen a higher percentage of their La Liga games this season finish with two or fewer goals than Rayo (63%), while Valencia (60%) are just behind in third.

Four of Valencia's last five matches have gone under 2.5 goals, and seven of Rayo's last nine have gone that way.

The last six head-to-heads have featured two or fewer goals, and I'm backing the run to extend to seven on Thursday.

I'm also adding in at least two tackles for Valencia right-back Renzo Saravia, who has recorded seven tackles across four appearances (three starts) following his February move from Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro.

The Argentine averaged 1.5 tackles per game for Atletico in last season's Campeonato Brasileiro, despite seven of his 19 appearances coming from the bench.