11 December 2021, 10:28 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The LaLiga fixture, Villarreal CF vs. Rayo Vallecano kicks off at 14:00 (GMT+1) on Sunday, December 12, at Estadio de la Cerámica.
Preview Villarreal La Liga, Dec 12, 2021
Preview Villarreal finished as runners-up in their section, UEFA Champions League Group-F, following a 3-2 win over the Italian outfit Atalanta on Thursday. In the Champions League, we have found good regularity, credibility, the confidence that is needed, Unai Emery said in his post-match press conference. Let's feel proud. It is an excellent opportunity for us to celebrate. In the next phase, we will have very strong opponents. We will have to make the most of it, Unai said, in anticipation of a difficult UCL fixture. Having secured a spot in the knock-out stage, the Yellow Submarine returns to Spanish soil having back-to-back defeats: LWDLL, following the 1-0 loss to Sevilla. A 16th-minute header from Lucas Ocampos separated both sides at full-time at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. The defeat saw Villarreal drop a spot, as they moved from 12th to 13th place on the LaLiga table after failing to earn a single point. With 16 points after 3W, 7D, and 5L, Unai Emery aims to bounce back to winning ways, having picked up only 4 points out of a possible fifteen in the last five games. A 4—4—2 formation with Arnaut Danjuma and Gerard Moreno could form the duo in the forked attack.
Preview Rayo Vallecano La Liga, Dec 12, 2021
Preview Rayo Vallecano earned three points following the 1-0 victory over Espanyol at the Estadio de Vallecas last Sunday. Raúl de Tomás had Espanyol’s best chance of the first half but failed to convert. Both sides left the pitch at the break after an uneventful first forty-five. An own goal from Leandro Cabrera (54’ O.G.) eventually separated both sides at full-time. Sitting in 6th place, Vallecano has picked up 8 points out of a possible 15 over the last five LaLiga games, DLWDW. The club has 27 points from 8W, 3D, and 5L. Andoni Iraola’s side has bagged an impressive haul of 24 goals over the course of the season, letting in 16 goals, which leaves the club with a G.D. of +8. On Sunday, a 4—2—3—1 formation with Sergio Guardiola at the top of the design is expected. Óscar Trejo (7 assists) remains at the top of the LaLiga assists list, alongside Karim Benzema. Trejo could be playing behind Guardiola once again. Club’s top scorer, Radamel Falcao (5 goals) [along with Álvaro García], remains doubtful, having only returned from a spell on the sidelines. Santiago Comesaña is back from suspension, while Martin Merquelanz, who picked up a sprained knee days ago, remains doubtful.