Explore My Football Facts' detailed preview for Rayo Vallecano vs Villarreal in the La Liga. Stats, odds, predictions, and lineups for the 18:00 BST match.
Fixture Information
| Fixture | Rayo Vallecano vs Villarreal |
|---|---|
| Competition | La Liga |
| Date | Sunday, 17 May 2026 |
| Kick-off | 18:00 BST |
| Venue | Estadio de Vallecas |
Match Prediction: Rayo Vallecano 1-0 Villarreal
Prediction Stats
Fulltime Result Probability
Both Teams To Score Probability
Over/Under 2.5 Probability
Last 5 Meetings
| League | Date | Match | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 01 Nov 2025 |  Villarreal vs  Rayo Vallecano |
4 – 0 | Estadio de la Cerámica |
| La Liga | 22 Feb 2025 | Rayo Vallecano vs Villarreal |
0 – 1 | Estadio de Vallecas |
| La Liga | 18 Dec 2024 | Villarreal vs Rayo Vallecano |
1 – 1 | Estadio de la Cerámica |
| La Liga | 28 Apr 2024 | Villarreal vs Rayo Vallecano |
3 – 0 | Estadio de la Cerámica |
| La Liga | 24 Sep 2023 | Rayo Vallecano vs Villarreal |
1 – 1 | Estadio de Vallecas |
Rayo Vallecano come into this at Estadio de Vallecas with a recent run that has been fairly steady, and the home draw with Girona plus the 2-0 win at Getafe suggest they can keep games tight. Villarreal have also been picking up results, but their away draw at Mallorca and the 1-1 at Real Oviedo show they are not always straightforward on the road.
The head-to-head record leans Villarreal, yet the most recent meetings have been competitive enough to suggest a narrow margin rather than a wide one. With no xG data available, the safest read is that Rayo’s home structure and Villarreal’s recent scoring form could cancel each other out for long spells. Match Prediction: Rayo Vallecano 1-0 Villarreal
Form Guide & Team Overview
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano’s recent league form shows a mixed but workable pattern, with two wins, two draws and one defeat across their last five. The 1-1 draw with Girona, the 2-0 win at Getafe and the 1-0 home win over Espanyol point to a side that has been competitive, especially when keeping the game controlled.
There is also evidence they can be involved in higher-scoring matches, as shown by the 3-3 draw with Real Sociedad. The 0-3 loss at Mallorca is the outlier in that run, but overall the recent results suggest Rayo have been more reliable at home than away.
Rayo Vallecano Last 5 Results
| League | Date | Match | Score | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 11 May 2026 | Rayo Vallecano vs  Girona |
1 – 1 | D | Estadio de Vallecas |
| La Liga | 3 May 2026 |  Getafe vs Rayo Vallecano |
0 – 2 | W | Coliseum Alfonso Pérez |
| La Liga | 26 Apr 2026 | Rayo Vallecano vs  Real Sociedad |
3 – 3 | D | Estadio de Vallecas |
| La Liga | 23 Apr 2026 | Rayo Vallecano vs  Espanyol |
1 – 0 | W | Estadio de Vallecas |
| La Liga | 12 Apr 2026 |  Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano |
3 – 0 | L | Estadi Mallorca Son Moix |
Villarreal
Villarreal’s recent league results have been strong overall, with three wins and two draws in their last five. The 5-1 home win over Levante stands out as the clearest attacking performance, while the 2-1 wins against Celta de Vigo and Athletic Club show they have been able to edge tighter games.
Their away form in this sample is more measured, with 1-1 draws at Mallorca and Real Oviedo. That suggests Villarreal are still collecting points on the road, but not always with the same control or cutting edge they have shown at home.
Villarreal Last 5 Results
| League | Date | Match | Score | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 10 May 2026 | Mallorca vs Villarreal |
1 – 1 | D | Estadi Mallorca Son Moix |
| La Liga | 2 May 2026 | Villarreal vs  Levante |
5 – 1 | W | Estadio de la Cerámica |
| La Liga | 26 Apr 2026 | Villarreal vs  Celta de Vigo |
2 – 1 | W | Estadio de la Cerámica |
| La Liga | 23 Apr 2026 |  Real Oviedo vs Villarreal |
1 – 1 | D | Estadio Nuevo Carlos Tartiere |
| La Liga | 12 Apr 2026 |  Athletic Club vs Villarreal |
1 – 2 | W | San Mamés Barria |
Team News & Injury Report
Rayo Vallecano
- Isi Palazón (Suspension Through Sports Court)
Villarreal
- Juan Foyth (Achilles tendon rupture)
Lineups & Tactical Setup
Rayo Vallecano (4-3-3)
Predicted lineup: Augusto Batalla (Goalkeeper), Andrei Rațiu (Defender), Florian Lejeune (Defender), Pathé Ciss (Defender), Pep Chavarría (Defender), Pedro Díaz (Midfielder), Unai López (Midfielder), Óscar Valentín (Midfielder), Fran Pérez (Attacker), Jorge de Frutos (Attacker), Sergio Camello (Attacker)
Rayo Vallecano’s predicted 4-3-3 should give them a compact midfield base, with Pedro Díaz, Unai López and Óscar Valentín helping them stay organised between the lines. The front three can then look to press Villarreal’s build-up and use the width to create chances from transitions.
Villarreal (4-4-2)
Predicted lineup: Arnau Tenas (Goalkeeper), Alex Freeman (Defender), Alfonso Pedraza (Defender), Pau Navarro (Defender), Renato Veiga (Defender), Alberto Moleiro (Midfielder), Dani Parejo (Midfielder), Nicolas Pépé (Midfielder), Pape Gueye (Midfielder), Georges Mikautadze (Attacker), Gerard Moreno (Attacker)
Villarreal’s predicted 4-4-2 gives them a balanced shape, with Alberto Moleiro and Nicolas Pépé able to support the central pair and provide service from wide areas. Georges Mikautadze and Gerard Moreno should give them a direct threat in the box if Villarreal can move the ball forward cleanly.
Key Battles & Players to Watch
| Rayo Vallecano | Villarreal | Key Battle Overview |
|---|---|---|
| Rayo Vallecano | Villarreal | Fran Pérez against Alex Freeman could be important if Rayo want to stretch Villarreal on the right side and create space in the final third. |
| Rayo Vallecano | Villarreal | Pedro Díaz against Alberto Moleiro may shape midfield control, with both players likely involved in linking play and setting the tempo. |
| Rayo Vallecano | Villarreal | Fran Pérez is key for Rayo Vallecano because his attacking role gives them a direct outlet and a chance to unsettle Villarreal’s back line. |
| Rayo Vallecano | Villarreal | Georges Mikautadze is key for Villarreal because he offers a central finishing threat and can turn their possession into chances. |
FAQs
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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.
