Elche vs Rayo Vallecano Prediction & Betting Tips (21 December)

Elche is showing the way to the promoted teams in this first half of the season. We are talking about a team still undefeated at home in the league, despite receiving Real Madrid 2-2 or even Bétis at the start of the season 1-1. Rigorous, playful and passionate in front of their audience, the Franjiverdes improved their very good first weeks of competition by qualifying for the 1/8 finals of the Copa del Rey by beating Eibar away this week 0-1. On the previous day, Elche fell to Mallorca 3-1, a week after their peppy victory against Girona at home 3-0. 11th at the start of this day, Elche, on the other hand, has only won 2 of its last 10 matches in the league, 5 defeats. Opposite, there was no Copa del Rey on the program for Rayo Vallecano but a final league phase match of the Conference League against Drita, result to come.

In the league, the Madrid team suffers in silence having not won any of its last 6 matches. It all started on November 1 with a big defeat suffered away on the pitch at Villarreal 4-0. Subsequently, Rayo went on to share three points with Real Madrid 0-0, Real Oviedo 0-0 and Valencia at home 1-1 before losing again on the lawn of the Pericos of Espanyol Barcelona 1-0. Last weekend, for the reception of Bétis, neither team was able to find the fault 0-0. 

Injured, midfielder Grady Diangana will logically be missing. Announced uncertain for the Copa del Rey, full-back Hector Fort was finally fit while Andre Sila (4 goals in La Liga) was preserved. Very little used in the league, the young 20-year-old Moroccan Adam Boayar scored the only goal of the match against Eibar. The latter had already been valuable in the 1/64th final thanks to a goal and an assist against UD Los Garres. Remaining on the bench this week, Rafa Mir (6 goals in La Liga) will be operational.  At Rayo Vallecano, full-back Ratiu (Romanian international) is suspended today for an accumulation of yellow cards while the imperial Jorge de Frutos (4 goals, 1 assist in La Liga) was forced to leave the field prematurely against Bétis last weekend (injured) and he could be missing. Senegalese international Pathe Ciss was called up to play in the CAN and he will not be in the squad today.

Oscar Trejo was back in competition this week, the same for former Bordeaux midfielder Pedro Diaz. The striker Alemao is still injured, as are the central defender Mumin and the midfielder Diego Mendez. Unai Lopez (middle), author of 2 assists in the league, will return from suspension. The probable line-ups for Elche - Rayo Vallecano: Elche: Pena - Fort, Chust, Affengruber, Bigas, Valera - Nunez, Aguado, Febas, Neto - Mir.Rayo Vallecano: Batalla - Balliu, Lejeune, Mendy, Chavarria - Valentin, Lopez - Perez, Palazon, Alvaro - Camello. 

• Summary: Elche is going head to head with Rayo Vallecano starting on 21 Dec 2025 at 17:30 UTC at Estadio Martínez Valero stadium, Elche city, Spain. The match is a part of the LaLiga .
• Elche Feedinco Rating: 6.83
• Rayo Vallecano Feedinco Rating: 6.77