Preview: Rayo Vallecano vs. Osasuna - prediction, team news, lineups

Rayo Vallecano will be bidding to return to winning ways when they welcome Osasuna to Estadio de Vallecas on Saturday evening.

The home side are currently ninth in Spain's top flight, boasting 31 points from 22 matches, while Osasuna occupy 12th position, two points behind their opponents this weekend.

Match preview

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Rayo have won nine, drawn four and lost nine of their 22 La Liga matches this season to collect 31 points, which has left them in ninth spot in the table, four points behind sixth-placed Villarreal.

The capital outfit, who came through the Segunda Division playoffs last term, have excelled on their return to this level, but they have only picked up one point from their last four league matches, losing their last two against Athletic Bilbao and Celta Vigo without finding the back of the net.

Rayo also lost 2-1 at home to Real Betis in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday, and they now have three league games against Osasuna, Elche and Real Madrid before the second leg of their last-four contest away to Real Betis at the start of March.

Andoni Iraola's side have no relegation fears at this stage, sitting 13 points clear of the bottom three, while they have been excellent at home this season, boasting 26 points from 11 matches, which is the third-best record in the division behind the top two - Real Madrid and Sevilla.

Rayo recorded a 1-0 victory when the two teams last locked horns in Madrid back in March 2014, but Osasuna ran out 1-0 winners in the reverse game back in October.

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Osasuna, meanwhile, will enter this contest off the back of a goalless draw with Sevilla on February 5, with the result leaving them in 12th position in the table on 29 points.

Los Rojillos have won seven, drawn eight and lost eight of their 23 league games this term, and they are only two points behind ninth-placed Rayo heading into this weekend's contest in the Spanish capital.

Osasuna have finished 10th and 11th in La Liga since returning to this level, and they are bidding to make it three straight top-flight campaigns for the first time since 2014.

Jagoba Arrasate's side have impressed on their travels this season, picking up 17 points from 11 matches, but they have struggled for consistency in front of their own fans, collecting just 12 points from 12 games.

Osasuna have a tough set of fixtures ahead, with Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad, Villarreal and Barcelona to come in their next four, so they will be wary of suffering a poor result in this match heading into that run.

Team News

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Rayo will be without the services of Unai Lopez, Jose Pozo and Martin Merquelanz this weekend, but the home side have no fresh injury concerns from their Copa del Rey contest with Real Betis.

Radamel Falcao could return in the final third of the field, while Ismaila Ciss is also expected to return in midfield, with head coach Iraola preparing to make alterations.

Isi Palazon, Oscar Trejo and Alvaro Garcia should all retain their spots in the starting side, though, while Santi Comesana could keep his position in midfield, with Oscar Valentin being replaced by Ciss.

As for Osasuna, Aridane Hernandez and Jesus Areso remain on the sidelines through injury, but Nacho Vidal and Darko Brasanac are both available again following suspension.

Head coach Arrasate will have been pleased with his side's performance against Sevilla last time out, so it would not be a surprise to see close to the same XI for this contest.

Ante Budimir could lead the line with support from Ruben Garcia and Ezequiel Avila in the wide areas, with Kike, Roberto Torres and fit-again Kike Barja potentially starting on the bench.

Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:
Zidane; Balliu, Saveljich, Catena, F Garcia; Ciss, Comesana; Palazon, Trejo, A Garcia; Falcao

Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Ramalho, D Garcia, Cruz, Sanchez; Torro; Avila, Moncayola, Martinez, R Garcia; Budimir

We say: Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Osasuna

Osasuna have had longer to prepare for this match, which should aid them on Saturday, especially in the second half. Rayo's home form this season has been excellent, though, so we are finding it difficult to predict a defeat for the capital side, instead settling on a low-scoring draw.

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