Rayo Vallecano vs. Samsunspor – News and Probable Lineups

Rayo Vallecano is set to host Samsunspor at the Estadio de Vallecas on Thursday evening for the crucial second leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League Round of 16 matchup, having established a solid lead following the initial encounter.

Inigo Perez’s squad returned to Madrid feeling confident after their 3–1 win in Turkey last week, while the visitors aim to become only the second team to reverse a 3–1 first-leg deficit in the Conference League, a feat previously accomplished by Olympiacos against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 2023–24 season.

Match overview

Rayo enters the upcoming match holding a 3–1 advantage over Samsunspor from the first leg, putting the Madrid club in an excellent position to advance to the quarter-finals.

Perez’s side progressed directly to the last 16 without needing a play-off, finishing fifth in the group stage with four victories, one draw, and one loss.

The Red Sashes showcased one of the league’s most efficient attacks during this phase, scoring 13 goals, only behind AEK Athens (14), and they improved upon that tally with a commanding performance in last week’s first-leg triumph.

Rayo opened the scoring in the first 15 minutes thanks to Alemao, who took advantage of a chance created by Isi Palazon, but Marius Mouandilmadji equalized seven minutes later for Samsunspor. Alvaro Garcia Rivera then put Rayo back in front before halftime following a rapid counterattack, and Alemao secured the 3–1 victory in the 78th minute with an impressive solo effort.

Palazon made history by being the first player from Rayo Vallecano to provide two assists in a single match in any major European competition, and he is also the first Spanish player to achieve this milestone in the Conference League.

This season, the capital club has claimed victory in all three of their home matches in the Conference League, although they have yet to win in their last two home outings in La Liga, both finishing in draws at 1–1, including a dramatic 94th-minute equalizer against Levante on Sunday.

Samsunspor heads to Madrid requiring a challenging comeback following a disappointing defeat at home that has provided Rayo a solid advantage and placed the Spanish team close to advancing to the quarter-finals.

The Turkish team is tasked with turning around a two-goal deficit away from home against an opponent who has demonstrated both attacking prowess and strategic discipline, while also keeping an unbeaten home record in the tournament this season.

After conceding three goals in the first leg, Samsunspor has little room for error, suggesting they may adopt a more aggressive strategy in Spain while also seeking to tighten their defence after the difficulties faced in Turkey.

Despite the challenging nature of the task ahead, Thorsten Fink’s squad can draw confidence from their offensive abilities in the tournament, led by Mouandilmadji, who has scored eight goals and provided two assists across nine Conference League appearances this season.

The Red Lightning have registered a mixed record away from home in the competition, with one win, one draw, and one loss, but they will feel encouraged by their 2–1 win against Kayserispor last weekend, which halted consecutive defeats against Fenerbahce and Rayo, potentially boosting their confidence.

Team News

Rayo will miss the services of Diego Mendez because of injury; however, the hosts still have a robust squad ready for the fixture against Samsunspor.

Augusto Batalla, Palazon, Oscar Trejo, and Oscar Valentin are all one booking away from suspension, meaning that another yellow card would rule them out of the first leg of the quarter-finals if Rayo advances.

Perez made significant rotations against Levante, implementing eight changes, with only Batalla, Florian Lejeune, and Alemao retaining their spots in the starting lineup from the first leg, but several key players are expected to return as the hosts look to finish the job.

Samsunspor faced a setback last weekend when captain Olivier Ntcham had to be substituted after just four minutes, with Antoine Makoumbou taking his place. Bedirhan Cetin remains out due to a cruciate ligament injury, Afonso Sousa is still recuperating from an ankle issue, and Jaures Assoumou is also sidelined due to injury.

Yunus Emre Cift, Carl Holse, Rick van Drongelen, and Celil Yuksel are all on two yellow cards and risk suspension for the quarter-finals should Samsunspor manage to pull off an upset.

Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:

Battle; Ratiu, Lejeune, Filipe, Chavarria; Lopes, Ciss; Akhomach, Garcia, Palazon; German

Samsunspor possible starting lineup:

Whisk; Cift, Sakta, Drongelen, Thomasson; Makoumbou, Yuksel, Kilinc; Holse, Mendes, Mouandilmadji

Rayo is currently in a favorable position to advance and could still proceed even with a narrow defeat, but their experience and control of the tie should enable them to capitalize on a Samsunspor team likely to press forward in search of goals.

The hosts are anticipated to frustrate their opponents and exploit available spaces, ultimately achieving another victory and upholding their impressive home record in the competition, with a 2–0 outcome being a strong likelihood.