Rayo Vallecano vs Deportivo Alaves Prediction 15.09.2023

• Competition: Spain - LaLiga
• Date: Friday, 15th, September 2023
• Kickoff: 20:00 UTC +1 / 21.00 CEST
• Venue: Campo de Futbol de Vallecas (Madrid)

The encounter on Friday at Campo de Futbol de Vallecas, which will see Rayo Vallecano take on the freshly-promoted Deportivo Alaves, marks the beginning of Gameweek Five in the Spanish La Liga.

Rayo Vallecano kicked off their La Liga season in sensational fashion, claiming back-to-back away wins against Almeria and newly-promoted side Granada, both ending 2-0. Despite the net remaining unbeaten during the opening two successes, the third round turned into a nightmare for Los Franjirrojos' defense, which suffered a devastating collapse, conceding a shocking seven goals on their home turf against city rivals Atletico (0-7). Afterward, Francisco's squad ventured to Betis with the aim of recovering from the painful defeat but came up short, experiencing a 0-1 loss at Benito Villamarin.

On their part, Deportivo Alaves has made a swift return to Spain's top-flight, finishing fourth in the Segunda Division regular season before defeating Eibar and Levante in the playoffs. The primary focus for the newly-promoted Basques will be to consolidate and retain their La Liga status. In the initial stages of the season, Alaves has showcased unpredictability, oscillating between success and disappointment. Their wins over Valencia and Sevilla are impressive, but losses to Cadiz and Getafe leave questions unanswered.

Rayo Vallecano vs Deportivo Alaves Betting Tips: Rayo Vallecano to Win

After back-to-back defeats and a goal difference of 0-8, the international ten-day break couldn't have arrived at a more opportune moment for the suburban Madrid club, giving head coach Francisco ample time to restore his players' confidence and optimism. Nonetheless, Los Franjirrojos are presented with an excellent chance to return to their winning ways this Friday as they host Alaves, a team that faces serious issues when competing outside their home stadium.

Indeed, the Basque club appears utterly powerless on foreign turf, as evidenced by the fact that they haven't secured an away victory in LaLiga since October 23, 2021, suffering 14 defeats in 17 away outings during that time, including both in the current season against Cadiz and Getafe. Furthermore, it's worth noting that last season, Rayo Vallecano heavily relied on their home turf as the primary source of points, securing nine out of their 13 wins on their home ground. This further strengthens the case for expecting a home team victory.