Rayo Vallecano vs Athletic Bilbao Prediction 01.12.2024 | LaLiga

• Competition: LaLiga
• Date: 01.12.2024
• Kickoff: 17:30 UK / 18:30 CET
• Venue: Campo de Futbol de Vallecas (Madrid)

Rayo Vallecano will likely finish this season in the lower half of the table but shouldn’t be among the teams fighting to avoid relegation. As always, they represent a tough, gritty, and combative style of football, making it difficult for their opponents to impose themselves, especially when Rayo plays at home. They currently sit in 13th place in the standings with 16 points. In their last match, they suffered a narrow 1-0 away loss to Sevilla.

On the other hand, Athletic Bilbao is having an excellent season across all competitions. They are tied for first place in their Europa League group alongside Eintracht and Lazio and are 5th in La Liga with 23 points. Heading into their trip to Madrid, Bilbao enjoyed a strong 3-0 victory against Swedish side Elfsborg. The entire team performed at a high level, with goals from substitute Adama Boiro, Beñat Prados Díaz, and Gorka Guruzeta.

Prediction: UNDER 2.5 GOALS

These are two teams that rely heavily on strong defensive setups, with both possessing some of the best backlines in the league. While Athletic Bilbao has more attacking talent and is generally a stronger side than Rayo, this won’t be an easy match for them. Rayo has had a few extra days to rest and prepare, giving them an edge. Additionally, playing in front of their home fans, they’ll be motivated to bounce back after two consecutive league defeats.

This is unlikely to be a free-flowing match with plenty of chances but rather a hard-fought battle where individual brilliance could decide the outcome. The safest choice here is UNDER 2.5 GOALS.