- Las Palmas have taken 32 points from 34 La Liga matches this season, leaving them 18th in the table and in the relegation battle.
- Rayo Vallecano have had a solid season, sitting in 8th place on 44 points from 34 games.
Las Palmas host Rayo Vallecano in a La Liga clash of contrasting philosophies on Friday when the Canary Islanders’ desperation to avoid the drop meets the visitors’ desire to finish as high as possible in the top half. Diego Martinez took over as Las Palmas boss in October 2024 and his side have shown enough grit and tactical nous to suggest they could survive. The Gran Canaria club produced a superb performance to beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 at home in January, but back-to-back defeats, the last of which was a 2-3 home loss to Valencia, have left them deep in the relegation mire. Rayo Vallecano, on the other hand, have had a solid season under Iñigo Pérez, who took over in February 2024. He has promoted a possession-based, balanced style of football that has kept them in the top half, but they have stumbled a little and failed to take any points from their last two La Liga away games.
Rayo have won five, drawn five and lost seven of their 17 La Liga away games this term, which is a mediocre record for a team that has finished in the top half. They have failed to provide enough of a goal threat on their travels, averaging 0.82 goals per game away from home in La Liga while conceding just over one per game. Fabio Silva has been their most reliable goal source with 10 La Liga goals in 24 appearances this term, but Oliver McBurnie has struck three times in his last five appearances for the relegation battlers and could be a good pick for an anytime goal here.
Las Palmas have won two, lost three and drawn none of their last five La Liga matches, so it is difficult to say they are in good form at the moment. But they have been stubborn at home, particularly against the bigger clubs, and Martinez’s men can get the job done against Rayo. Las Palmas are the slight favourites at 2.45, with Rayo and the draw both available at 3.50. That looks about right as the hosts have a slightly better recent head-to-head record (2-1 to Las Palmas over the last three La Liga meetings), but have not beaten Rayo at home during that time. Rayo Vallecano have been inconsistent away from home all season, but Las Palmas have also been poor at Estadio Gran Canaria, winning just four and drawing five of their 17 home La Liga matches this term. Their home record is patchy, so it is difficult to be fully behind them even though they are desperate for the win.
