Leganés remains unbeaten in the new calendar year, with three wins and two draws. Their solid performances have propelled them to the Copa del Rey quarterfinals and kept them in 16th place in La Liga. The team often bypasses short passing in favor of long balls, sticking to a pragmatic style of play.
Tactically, Borja Jiménez prefers a 5-4-1 formation, which often results in Leganés “parking the bus.” In their recent 0-0 draw against Athletic, the team spent most of the match defending deep in their own half. One interesting tactical element is the interplay between Darko Brašanac and Juan Cruz—despite neither being a natural full-back, one frequently drops into a wing-back role while the other supports the midfield, creating space for overlapping runs down the flank. Enric Franquesa remains sidelined due to injury.
Rayo Vallecano is also in impressive form, currently riding a seven-match unbeaten streak in La Liga. In the previous round, they pulled off a comeback victory against Girona (2-1), with Randy Nteka scoring twice.
This season, Rayo has heavily relied on individual brilliance, with players like Isi Palazón and Jorge de Frutos consistently producing moments of magic. Unlike Leganés, Rayo thrives in open play and actively looks to exploit space. While they start in a 4-4-2 formation, Íñigo Pérez frequently shifts the setup to 4-2-3-1, pushing Isi Palazón into the No. 10 role, while Jorge de Frutos and Adrián Embarba move into the half-spaces, allowing the full-backs to push forward.
This dynamic, high-intensity style makes Rayo a strong pressing team, constantly looking to regain possession quickly. With only one point separating them from the European qualification spots, Pérez’s side has plenty of motivation heading into this match.
Given these factors, we expect a cagey affair, likely resulting in a low-scoring draw. Our recommended bet is Total Under 2.5 Goals, with odds of 1.46.
Place a bet on the line of 1xBet with odds of 1.46
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