The big picture

Villarreal come in 8th on the ladder with 15 points; Rayo Vallecano are 14th on 12. Villarreal have the higher position to protect.

Villarreal are 3–5–3 in LaLiga 2026-27, averaging 1.4 goals for and 1.4 against.

Rayo Vallecano are 3–4–3 in LaLiga 2026-27, averaging 1.5 goals for and 2 against.

Form

Villarreal have won one of their last five and most recently lost to Paris Saint-Germain 0–6.

Rayo Vallecano have won two of their last five and most recently beat Celta Vigo 3–0.

Head to head

These sides have met 20 times on our records since 2011: Villarreal 12, Rayo Vallecano 5, 3 drawn.

Last time out (2025-26), Rayo Vallecano won 2–0 at Estadio de Vallecas.

Biggest margin between these two: Villarreal by 4 goals in 2025-26 (4–0).

Players to watch

For Villarreal, watch Santiago Mouriño (0.5 goals a game in 2026-27) and Tani Oluwaseyi (0.5 goals a game in 2026-27).

For Rayo Vallecano, watch Sergio Camello (0.7 goals a game, 2 assists in 2026-27) and Álvaro García (0.3 goals a game, 2 assists in 2026-27).

At Estadio de la Cerámica

Villarreal have won 10 of their last 19 at Estadio de la Cerámica.

What the numbers say

On form, ladder and history, Villarreal have the edge.