Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the La Liga match.
Almost nothing remains from last season's Girona— the Catalan side is forced to rebuild their squad and players have yet to get used to each other. Rayo Vallecano, on the other hand, picked up four out of a possible six points last week against not-so-easy opponents, and they rightfully sit higher in the table.
Girona
After the international break, Girona have suffered three consecutive defeats with an aggregate score of 1:7. If not for a goalkeeper error by Paulo Gazzaniga which cost them a draw away at Paris Saint-Germain (0:1), the losses against FC Barcelona (1:4) and Valencia (0:2) were clear defensive failures. According to xGA, Girona conceded nearly three more goals than expected (7.01 with 10 goals against). Their attack is also disorganised: Abel Ruiz, Bojan Miovski, and Arnaut Danjuma are still adjusting to the team.
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano's progress was already visible in the game against FC Barcelona (1:2), indicating their potential to become European competition contenders. Against Osasuna (3:1) and Atlético Madrid (1:1), they generated a combined 3.17 xG, outplaying their opponents in attack on both occasions. Additionally, the team has been boosted by the arrival of James Rodríguez — the best player of the Copa America 2024 is ready to make an impact in La Liga.
Girona vs Rayo Vallecano Prediction
Girona's series of defeats weighs heavily on them, while Rayo Vallecano will travel to Catalonia with confidence. We'll back the visitors with a (+1) handicap, as their performances against top teams have been impressive.
