Rayo Vallecano vs Getafe: Match Preview and Prediction

January 2, 2026, 10:00 PM. Madrid. Vallecas.
La Liga 2025-26. 18th round

Rayo Vallecano (Madrid) – Getafe

Where to watch: MEGOGO

Disqualification: none

Injured: Jorge de Frutos – Djene, Borja Mayoral

Questionable: Abdul Mumin, Ivan Balliu, Alemau – Abdel Abkar, Abu Kamara

African Cup of Nations: Pathe Cisse ("Rayo Vallecano")

Rayo Vallecano

The Lightning team delighted its fans at the end of last year with victories in the Conference League – an away victory over Jagiellonia with a score of 2:1 and a home victory over Drita with a score of 3-0 – securing a direct passage to the round of 16. However, these achievements are somewhat disappointing, as everything has been Madrid's team has been unstable on the domestic front recently. They even needed extra time to beat a much weaker Real Ávila in the Spanish Cup. In La Liga, Íñigo Pérez's team is currently on a seven-match unbeaten run, just three points above the relegation zone. So the Rayo Vallecano coach could well become the next victim of the coaching staff this season.

The last time Madrid won in the league was on October 26, when they beat Alaves 1-0 at home thanks to a goal from Alemau in injury time. In seven matches since then, Blyskavka have only collected four points – three 0-0 draws with Real Madrid, Oviedo and Betis, a 1-1 draw with Valencia, and three defeats. In early November, Inigo Perez's team suffered a crushing 4-0 away defeat at Villarreal, then suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at Espanyol in Barcelona, ​​and in the last match of the year they were completely crushed again – a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Elche at the Estadio Martínez Valero.

Getafe

Azulones have not been a model of stability in recent times either. Quite the opposite. At the end of November, José Bordalas' team achieved their last comprehensive victory, defeating the aforementioned Elche 1-0 at home thanks to a goal from Mauro Arambarri in the first half of the second period. A few days later, Getafe made an impressive comeback in the Spanish Cup against Navalcarnero, overcoming a 2-0 deficit in normal time and scoring the winning goal in extra time. But on the eve of the Christmas and New Year holidays, the club from the outskirts of Madrid continued to lose, including being knocked out of the Spanish Cup 3-1 by second division team Burgos. Like Rayo, Getafe's unbeaten run began with an away defeat to Villarreal, although they conceded half the number of goals in that game - 2-0. A week later, José Bordalas' men suffered a narrow 1-0 home defeat to Espanyol, who had been in excellent form on New Year's Eve. And in the final match of the year, Getafe, like their future opponents, were completely outplayed away from home, thrashing Betis 4-0, who dominated the game, although facing Azulónes is usually a tough task for anyone. Now, these two teams will start the new Spanish football year, each looking to bounce back from recent setbacks.

Rayo Vallecano vs. Getafe: Predicted Lineups

Rayo Vallecano vs Getafe: Author's Prediction

Rayo Vallecano have lost just one home match this season, despite hosting heavyweights like Barcelona and Real Madrid, and that one defeat was incredibly disappointing and somewhat undeserved. It's also worth noting that Blyskavka have two positive streaks against Azulónes in Vallecas - four matches without defeat (two wins and two draws) and four consecutive clean sheets. Both could easily continue. As for Getafe, José Bordalas' team has a few away wins, but I seriously doubt their next win will be in this match.