After securing a place in the UEFA Europa Conference League final—scheduled for Wednesday, May 28, against Chelsea—Real Betis still has one major domestic goal: qualifying for next season's UEFA Champions League. On Thursday, May 15, Manuel Pellegrini’s experienced squad travels to the Estadio de Vallecas to face Rayo Vallecano, aiming to extend their unbeaten La Liga run to five games and close the three-point gap on fifth-placed Villarreal. Finishing fifth—the final Champions League qualifying spot this season—would match their 2021/22 finish, but with a major difference: this time, it guarantees participation in Europe’s most prestigious club competition. Betis has every chance to achieve this target, especially with the breakthrough of Antony, on loan from Manchester United since January, and the resurgence of Isco, who has returned to form after missing the first half of the season due to injury. However, standing in their way is a resurgent Rayo Vallecano side that has won two straight games and is also fighting for a European spot. Under coach Iñigo Pérez, Rayo currently sits eighth, which would secure a place in the Conference League, but they are just two points behind seventh-placed Celta Vigo—a position that grants access to the UEFA Europa League. That would mark the Madrid-based club’s first return to European competition in 25 years.

Rayo Vallecano Recent Form & Key Stats

Rayo Vallecano comes into this fixture in solid form. In last Friday’s La Liga fixture against Las Palmas, they picked up their second consecutive 1-0 win, following a similar result against Getafe. This time it was Álvaro García who made the difference, netting his fourth goal of the 2024/25 La Liga season.Thanks to this win, Rayo climbed to 47 points (12 wins, 11 draws, 12 defeats) and remains fully in the race for a Conference League or Europa League berth.

Pérez's team is one of the lowest-scoring sides in the top half of the table, with just 37 goals, but their strong defensive record—sixth best in La Liga with 42 goals conceded—has been key. At home, they’ve earned 24 of their total points (compared to 23 away) and average 1.29 goals scored versus 1.41 conceded per game. In their last five home matches, they’ve managed one win, one loss, and three draws.

Real Betis Recent Form & Key Stats

Real Betis is riding a wave of momentum after reaching the Conference League final by drawing 2-2 in extra time against Fiorentina. However, their most recent league match ended in a 1-1 home draw with Osasuna, possibly due to fatigue following their European efforts. In La Liga, they are unbeaten in their last four matches, with three wins and a draw.

After 35 matchdays, Betis has accumulated 58 points, just shy of the Champions League qualification zone. Of those, 25 have come on the road from 7 wins and 4 draws, with an average of 1.29 goals scored and 1.35 conceded per away game. Impressively, they haven’t lost in their last five La Liga away matches, notching three wins and two draws.

Rayo Vallecano vs Real Betis Prediction and Tactical Overview

Rayo Vallecano has consistently scored in home games this season, even against top teams—as highlighted by the three goals they scored against Real Madrid last December. Moreover, they’ve opened the scoring in four of their last five matches, demonstrating an aggressive start to games.

On the other hand, Real Betis has conceded at least one goal in each of their last eight matches but has also scored in 16 consecutive league games. Pellegrini’s team plays with high intensity, creating numerous scoring chances—particularly through their fast wingers—but also leaves space at the back for opponents.

Looking at past meetings, both teams have scored in eight of their last ten encounters, including the 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture last December, with Isco scoring from the penalty spot and Palazón equalizing.

For Matchday 36 of La Liga, the Rayo Vallecano vs Real Betis prediction from BetMines' algorithm points to a game where both teams are expected to find the net.

• Rayo Vallecano vs Real Betis prediction from the BetMines algorithm predicts a match in which both teams will score at least one goal at 55%
  
  
• Rayo Vallecano vs Real Betis prediction from BetMines Algorithm predicts that at least one of the two teams will not score a goal at 45%.

Rayo Vallecano vs Real Betis Predicted Lineups

RAYO VALLECANO (4-2-3-1): Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Hernandez, Chavarria; Ciss, Lopez; De Frutos, Diaz, Garcia; Embarba. Coach: Iñigo Pérez

REAL BETIS (4-2-3-1): Adrian; Sabaly, Bartra, Natan, Rodriguez; Cardoso, Lo Celso; Antony, Isco, Fornals; Bakambu. Coach: Manuel Pellegrini