Real Betis vs Rayo Vallecano – News and Probable Lineups

Real Betis will be looking to secure their fourth consecutive victory in Spain’s top division as they host Rayo Vallecano this Saturday afternoon.

Manuel Pellegrini’s team currently occupies fifth place in La Liga, trailing fourth-placed Atletico Madrid by four points, while Rayo sits in 17th place, just one point above 18th-placed Mallorca.

Match overview

This season, Real Betis has notched up 11 wins, eight draws, and five losses across their 24 league fixtures, amassing 41 points which firmly positions them in fifth, four points shy of Atletico Madrid in fourth, and six points ahead of sixth-placed Espanyol.

Pellegrini’s squad has triumphed in their last three league matches, defeating Valencia, Atletico Madrid, and Mallorca, and they remain firmly in contention for a Champions League berth as the season approaches its final stretch.

At home, Real Betis has been robust this season, accumulating 22 points from 11 encounters, while facing off against a Rayo team that has suffered defeats in eight of their 12 away league fixtures during the 2025-26 season.

However, the Seville side has not managed to defeat Rayo since September 2023, and their last three encounters in Spain’s top league have ended in draws.

The previous match-up ended goalless back in December 2025, while their most recent clash in Seville concluded in a 1-1 stalemate in December 2024.

Rayo Vallecano has only managed to triumph over Real Betis once in La Liga since April 2014, achieving a 2-0 victory at home in March 2024.

The guests approach this match following an outstanding performance, having defeated Atletico Madrid 3-0, which marked just their second league win since late October.

Inigo Perez’s side has faced a challenging domestic season, managing only 25 points from 23 league outings, placing them in 17th position, just one point above 18th-placed Mallorca.

Los Franjirrojos are close to 13th-placed Sevilla, only one point adrift, so the landscape could shift quickly, with plenty of fixtures remaining in the season.

Real Betis La Liga form:

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Real Betis form (all competitions):

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Rayo Vallecano La Liga form:

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Rayo Vallecano form (all competitions):

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Team News

Betis will miss the contributions of Sofyan Amrabat, Giovani Lo Celso, and Isco due to injuries, and Hector Bellerin’s participation remains doubtful.

Cucho Hernandez will undergo a late fitness evaluation, but even if declared available, Cedric Bakambu might keep his starting position after scoring against Mallorca last time out.

There are expected to be no significant surprises in the home team’s lineup on Saturday, with Antony and Abde Ezzalzouli likely featuring in the wide areas for Pellegrini’s side.

On the other hand, Rayo will be without Diego Mendez due to injury.

However, the visitors will welcome back Pep Chavarria and Pathe Ciss from suspension, providing a double boost for the match.

Chavarria is set to rejoin the starting XI, but it’s likely the squad will remain unchanged from the one that faced Atletico last time, given their impressive display.

Real Betis probable starting XI:

Valles; Ruibal, Llorente, Nathan, Rodriguez; Antony, Fornals, Roca, Fidalgo, Ezzalzouli; Lambs

Rayo Vallecano probable starting XI:

Battle; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mendy, Chavarria; Valentin, Gumbau; Akhomach, Palazon, Perez; De Frutos

Rayo will carry confidence following their strong performance against Atletico, but Real Betis is in formidable shape, and we expect the Seville team to claim all three points.