Rayo Vallecano and Deportivo Alavés meet on Thursday, August 20, in the second round of the 2026/27 La Liga season. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00 local time at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque in Leganés, with Rayo unable to play at their usual ground because it has been closed for safety reasons. The venue change creates an unusual backdrop, while calls for a supporter boycott could further reduce Rayo’s sense of home advantage. On the pitch, the two clubs arrive with contrasting opening results: Rayo lost 2-1 against Sevilla, whereas Alavés defeated Getafe 3-0.

Rayo Vallecano Recent Form and Key Statistics

Rayo Vallecano began their league campaign with a frustrating defeat at Sevilla on August 15. They took the lead and produced a positive performance, but two penalties turned the match around, including a decisive stoppage-time goal. Rayo also played the closing phase with a numerical advantage but could not protect the result, leaving them with no points after their opening fixture.

The wider form figures add to the pressure surrounding the nominal home side. Rayo have recorded one win and four defeats in their last five matches, scoring an average of 1.2 goals and conceding 2.2 per game. Their current La Liga record stands at one loss, with averages of one goal scored and two allowed. Those numbers leave them 18th in the early ranking, although only one round has been completed.

There are more encouraging signs in Rayo’s home-related scoring trends. They have found the net at least once in each of their last 12 home matches in La Liga. In addition, the second half has produced at least one goal in their last 13 home fixtures and in each of their previous 10 home league games. These sequences point towards a side that regularly contributes to the score and whose matches often develop after the interval, even if this contest will take place away from their usual stadium.

Rayo finished eighth in the previous league campaign and also reached the Conference final, losing 1-0 to Crystal Palace. Their last league match of that season was a 2-1 away victory over Alavés, a result that gives them a recent positive reference against Thursday’s opponents. However, their immediate task is to recover from a difficult run and collect their first points of the new campaign.

Deportivo Alavés Recent Form and Key Statistics

Deportivo Alavés made a winning start by beating Getafe 3-0 on August 15. The final score was emphatic, although the match remained much closer until its late stages. Alavés benefited from having an extra player and scored twice in stoppage time, turning a narrow advantage into a comfortable-looking victory.

The visitors nevertheless arrive with clearly stronger recent figures than Rayo. Across their last five matches, Alavés have registered three wins and two draws, averaging 1.8 goals scored and only 0.4 conceded. Their opening league result gives them a record of one win from one, with three goals scored and none conceded. They are first in the early La Liga ranking ahead of this fixture.

Alavés have scored at least once in each of their last 13 La Liga matches, showing notable consistency in front of goal. Their games also carry a strong second-half trend: at least one goal after the break has been recorded in 25 of their previous 27 matches across all competitions and in 22 of their last 24 league fixtures. As with Rayo’s relevant sequences, this suggests that the latter stages could be especially important.

The visitors finished 14th last season, seven points behind Rayo and only one point above the team occupying the antepenultimate position. Their stated objective is to remain in the division, so the opening win provides a valuable foundation. Even so, the circumstances of the 3-0 result indicate that the scoreline alone does not tell the full story of their performance against Getafe.

Probable Lineups for Rayo Vallecano vs Deportivo Alavés

Rayo are expected to be without Luiz Felipe because of injury, while Kumbulla remains doubtful. Their proposed lineup is: Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Ciss, Balliu; Óscar Valentín, López; De Frutos, Isi, Álvaro; Nteka. Camello and Alemao are also candidates to replace Nteka in attack.

The expected Deportivo Alavés lineup is: Sivera; Ángel Pérez, Tenaglia, Koski, Castro, Rebbach; Ibáñez, Blanco, Denis; Toni Martínez and Mariano. Lucas Boyé is another option in the forward line, although Mariano’s goal against Getafe could strengthen his case for a starting place.

Rayo Vallecano vs Deportivo Alavés Match Analysis

The recent head-to-head figures offer Rayo some encouragement despite the teams’ opposing starts. The latest meeting finished 2-1 to Rayo Vallecano on May 23, 2026. Across the supplied head-to-head summary, Rayo have four wins and one defeat, with no draws, while averaging 1.2 goals scored and 0.6 conceded. That record supports their ability to compete effectively in this matchup.

However, the current form comparison favors Alavés. The visitors are unbeaten in five matches and have conceded very little during that sequence, while Rayo have lost four of five and are allowing more than two goals per game on average. The venue situation also complicates the nominal hosts’ task, as the fixture will be played at Butarque and their level of support remains uncertain.

The statistical probabilities still give Rayo the largest individual chance of victory at 44%, compared with 29% for the draw and 27% for an Alavés win. At the same time, the goal projections indicate a potentially controlled contest: Under 2.5 goals carries a 60% probability, while Both Teams To Score (No) is rated at 54%. The head-to-head averages reinforce that cautious reading, even though both clubs have lengthy scoring sequences and strong patterns for goals after half-time.

Rayo’s need to respond, Alavés’ recent defensive record and the unusual setting create a finely balanced La Liga preview. The home side have the better head-to-head return, but the visitors bring stronger momentum and an opening clean sheet. With the available numbers leaning away from a high total, a match decided by a small margin appears more consistent with the evidence than an open, high-scoring contest.

Rayo Vallecano vs Deportivo Alavés prediction from BetMines: Under 2.5 goals with 60% probability.