Two of the three promoted teams in La Liga 2 have already been determined in the regular season. The last promotion spot will now be played out in the play-offs. Among the four teams in the promotion play-offs is CD Leganés. Relegated from the Spanish top flight last season, the Pepineros are aiming for immediate promotion.
In the semi-finals of the play-offs, the in-form club from the Madrid suburbs will face Rayo Vallecano and will be guests at Rayo’s Campo de Futbol de Vallecas in the first leg. Although Leganés remained unbeaten against their semi-final opponents in the first and second legs, best betting sites see the visitors as slight underdogs on Wednesday night.
Rayo Vallecano vs Leganes are currently offering odds of up to 3.20 for an away win, but with the Pepineros’ recent run of form, it’s worth making a prediction. Leganes remained unbeaten in the last eight games of the regular season, including the second-round draw (1-1) at Rayo. It is quite possible that the series will be extended in the play-offs.
Prediction & Live Odds for Rayo Vallecano vs. Leganes
Based on the recent form of both clubs, there is no doubt that CD Leganés have the edge over Rayo Vallecano in the semi-finals of the promotion play-offs. The Pepineros put in a strong performance at the end of the season, and last week’s emphatic victory gave them renewed confidence ahead of the semi-final first leg.
To set the course for the second leg, an away goal in the derby against Rayo is particularly important. Considering how weak the hosts have been in recent La Liga 2 home games, we do not rule out a surprise coup for the visitors on Thursday evening.
As in the most recent league encounter just under a month ago, we expect a match of equals in which the Vallecanos’ attack will have to battle against the visitors’ defensive fortress for long stretches. For Rayo Vallecano vs Leganes, our betting odds are on the “Double Chance X2”.
Rayo Vallecano – Statistics & current form
With their neighbours Gijon and Rayo Vallecano both suffering defeats in their final game of the season, the Vallecanos were able to book their place in the promotion play-offs with a bit of help from the referee. For the first time since their relegation from La Liga in the 2018/19 season, the Madrid working-class club now have a chance to return to the Spanish top flight.
In the regular season, Rayo Vallecano had a record of 19-10-13 in 42 games with a goal difference of 52:40, making them statistically the second strongest offensive team among the four play-off participants. The result against Lugo was therefore all the more surprising, with Rayo going scoreless against one of the weakest defences in the league.
In order to use the home advantage in the semi-final first leg against Leganés, head coach Andoni Iraolo’s team will have to improve significantly, especially in their offensive play. The sixth-placed team scored only one goal against their opponents in the first and second legs.
Will the home woes continue?
Rayo have a record of 11-4-6 at home this season, but in the run-up to the play-offs, the Vallecanos have not been in the best of form at home in the Camp de Futbol de Vallecas. Iraolo’s side have won only one of their last five home games. In addition, they conceded a total of six goals in their last five home games.
Because the away goals rule applies in the play-offs, any goal conceded against CD Leganés would be fatal. If Rayo Vallecano are successful against Leganes, bettors who expect the home side to prevail can pick up odds of 2.75 for tip 1. The Unibet app also offers the semi-final of the promotion play-offs as a live match.
Andoni Iraola will be able to draw on a full complement of players on Wednesday evening and has no serious absentees to complain about. After the weak offensive performance against CD Lugo, changes in the starting eleven cannot be ruled out. Yacine Qasmi will be replaced by Antonín, who is the Vallecanos’ second best scorer with six goals.
Rayo Vallecano’s likely line-up:
Zidane – Garcia, Catena, Saveljich, Advincula – Valentin, Comesafia – Garcia, Trejo, Palazon – Antonin
Leganes – Statistics & current form
The Pepineros go into the promotion play-offs in top form and, as the third team to be relegated from the Spanish top flight, they will be aiming for direct promotion, just like Espanyol and Mallorca. What speaks for a promotion of CD Leganés is undoubtedly the recent form curve of the third-placed team in La Liga 2.
In the season’s final spurt, Leganes have not suffered a single defeat in their last eight games. In the last four games, the team of head coach Asier Garitano even remained without conceding a goal. In the season finale against Real Zaragoza, the third-placed team already warmed up with a resounding 5-0 victory, even in the absence of many key players.
CD Leganés will now be at its best again against Rayo Vallecano. Among others, the offensive duo Sabin Merino and Borja Bastón, both of whom were spared in the away match in Zaragoza, will return. If the Pepineros win for the third time in a row, Rayo Vallecano vs Leganes will pay attractive odds for a prediction on the visitors.
Will the defensive fortress hold against Rayo?
In the regular season, Leganes had the fourth best defensive bulwark in the league, conceding only 32 goals in 42 games. Only the two promoted teams Espanyol and Mallorca, as well as seventh-placed Gijon, conceded fewer goals. If Garitano’s team can keep up the momentum of their current winning streak, a clean sheet against Rayo is by no means out of the question.
Leganes have a record of 6-7-8 in their 21 away games so far this season, and have gone unbeaten in their last four away games, including a big away win at Zaragoza. The last time the Pepineros suffered an away defeat was almost two months ago.
Leganes have not lost a derby against their upcoming opponents from Madrid since May 2008. CD Leganés are unbeaten in six matches in a row against the Vallecanos. Accordingly, the visitors will go into the semi-final first leg with a broad chest.
Predicted Leganes line-up:
Riesgo – Silva, Hernandez, Gonzalez, Palencia – Perez, Shibasaki – Merino, Munos, Aviles – Baston