Rayo Vallecano – Espanyol

Rayo Vallecano host Espanyol in a La Liga clash that could prove pivotal for both sides. The hosts sit 16th with just four points from five games, having scored only eight times while conceding 14, and will be desperate to claw back into the safety zone. Espanyol, meanwhile, sit comfortably in eighth place on seven points, their two wins and a draw balanced by a respectable defensive record of five goals conceded. The two teams have already met twice this season, each taking a point from the other, so the encounter promises a tightly contested battle. A win for Rayo could spark a revival, while Espanyol will look to consolidate their push for a European spot.