Rayo Vallecano will be bidding to continue their impressive start to the 2022-23 La Liga campaign when they welcome Mallorca on Saturday evening.
The home side have collected four points from their first two matches to sit sixth in the table, while Mallorca are 14th with just one point to show from their opening two fixtures.
Match preview
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Rayo Vallecano were excellent in La Liga last season, finishing 12th in the table upon their return to this level, which saw them secure back-to-back campaigns in Spain's top flight for the first time since 2016.
Los Franjirrojos have also made a solid start to the 2022-23 season, picking up a point in a goalless draw away to Barcelona on August 13 before recording a 2-0 victory at Espanyol last time out.
Isi Palazon and Pathe Ciss were on the scoresheet at RCDE Stadium on August 19, and Rayo will now be looking to round off a successful August with a positive result against Mallorca.
Andoni Iraola's side won 11 of their 38 league games last season, but they did lose 18 times and were only four points clear of the relegation zone, so they will be aware of what level is required this season to allow them to secure another campaign of football in Spain's top flight.
Rayo suffered a 2-1 loss to Mallorca when the two teams last locked horns in May, but the capital outfit did record a 3-1 victory when the two teams met in the corresponding fixture last term.
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Mallorca, meanwhile, also managed to secure back-to-back campaigns at this level by finishing 16th last term, only one point outside of the relegation zone.
The Pirates opened their 2022-23 season with an impressive point at Athletic Bilbao, but they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Real Betis in their second match of the campaign last time out.
Mallorca were actually a top-10 team in La Liga between 2007 and 2012, only finishing in the bottom half on one occasion during that time period, but they then played in the Segunda Division between 2013 and 2017, while there was also one campaign - 2017-18 - in the third tier of Spanish football.
Javier Aguirre's side will open September with a home game against Girona, while they will travel to Real Madrid and welcome Almeria in their two fixtures ahead of the international break.
Mallorca found it difficult to pick up results on their travels in La Liga last season, collecting only 12 points from 19 matches, recording just three victories in the process.
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Team News
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Rayo will again be missing Diego Lopez, Santi Comesana and Andres Martin this weekend through injury, while Florian Lejeune is suspended following his red card against Espanyol last time out.
Due to the impressive performance and victory over Diego Martinez's side, the bulk of the XI that took to the field for the first whistle of that match should again start here.
There could ultimately be just the one change from the Espanyol fixture, with Mario Hernandez replacing the suspended Lejeune, so the likes of Salvi and Radamel Falcao should again be on the bench.
As for Mallorca, Dominik Greif, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta and Amath Ndiaye will miss the contest through injury.
Head coach Aguirre would have been pleased with certain aspects of the team's performance against Real Betis, so he is expected to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack.
Lee Kang-in, Dani Rodriguez and Muriqi should again operate in the final third of the field, while Pablo Maffeo and Jaume Costa will continue in the wing-back positions for the visitors.
Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:
Dimitrievski; Balliu, Hernandez, Catena, F Garcia; Lopez, Ciss; Palazon, Trejo, A Garcia; Camello
Mallorca possible starting lineup:
Rajkovic; Maffeo, Valjent, Copete, Raillo, Costa; Rodriguez, Grenier, Battaglia, Kang-in; Muriqi
We say: Rayo Vallecano 2-0 Mallorca
Rayo have been impressive this season, and the capital outfit will be the favourites heading into this match. Mallorca found it difficult on their travels last term, while they have made a slow start to this campaign, so we are expecting a home victory on Saturday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
