Rayo Vallecano vs Real Betis

After losing two points last weekend, Real Betis aim to revive their Champions League qualification hopes as they head to Vallecas for Thursday’s clash with Rayo Vallecano.

Los Verdiblancos currently hold sixth place in La Liga, while Rayo sit just inside the European qualification spots in eighth.

With 47 points from 35 games, Rayo are chasing a historic second European campaign, their first since reaching the UEFA Cup finals in 2000-01.

Los Franjirrojos occupy the Conference League qualification position, aware that they could either miss out on Europe entirely or climb to the Europa League, trailing seventh-placed Celta Vigo by just two points.

With the battle for European spots heating up, Rayo seem to be peaking at the perfect moment, snapping a four-game winless streak with back-to-back 1-0 wins.

Florian Lejeune’s seventh-minute header sealed victory in their latest home match against Getafe, followed by Alvaro Garcia’s decisive strike in Friday’s visit to Gran Canaria, where Rayo became the first La Liga side to win four straight away games against Las Palmas without conceding.

Having kept clean sheets in their last two victories, Rayo now have the opportunity to achieve three consecutive wins without conceding for the first time in their La Liga history.

Los Franjirrojos have struggled against Betis, winning just one of their last 11 La Liga encounters (D4, L6), though that lone triumph came in their most recent home meeting in March 2024, with goals from Florian Lejeune and Sergio Camello securing a 2-0 win.

Betis are eagerly anticipating their first-ever European final after overcoming Italian outfit Fiorentina in a thrilling Conference League semi-final second leg in Florence last week.

Los Verdiblancos carried a slim advantage into the second leg, but Fiorentina took a 2-1 lead on the night, forcing extra time, where Abde Ezzalzouli’s crucial goal booked a final against Chelsea in Poland later this month.

Celebrations were brief, however, as Betis shifted focus to Sunday’s La Liga home game against Osasuna, a frustrating match where Cucho Hernandez’s goal was matched by Ante Budimir, leaving Manuel Pellegrini’s side with a 1-1 draw.

Consequently, the Andalusian outfit face an uphill battle to clinch a top-five finish and Champions League qualification, now trailing fifth-placed Villarreal by three points and fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao by six.

Betis will likely need victories in their final three matches against Rayo, Atletico Madrid, and Valencia to keep their hopes alive for a second-ever Champions League berth.

Thursday’s visitors have been strong on the road, winning four of their last five away league games, including their most recent trips to Girona and Espanyol.