Preview: Rayo Vallecano vs. Elche · prediction, team news, line-ups

Rayo Vallecano host Elche at the Estadio de Vallecas on Saturday 24 October, with kick-off at 06:00 Mexico City time, in LaLiga's tenth round of the season.

The hosts are 14th with nine points from eight games. The visitors are 18th with seven points from nine matches.

Match preview

Rayo have collected nine points from eight league games, with two wins, three draws and three defeats. Their goal difference is -5 and they sit 14th in the 20-team table.

They are a different proposition at home. Vallecas has not seen a Rayo defeat this season, with two wins and a draw from three matches, scoring six and conceding four.

Away from home, the picture changes completely. Rayo have no wins, two draws and three defeats on the road, scoring six and conceding 13.

Recent form is three consecutive draws: 1-1 at Getafe on 19 October, 0-0 against Athletic Club on 10 October and 1-1 at Osasuna on 19 September. Before that, they beat Espanyol 2-1 and lost 4-1 at Real Madrid.

Sergio Camello leads the line with seven goals, while Alvaro Garcia has three. Rayo have scored in their last nine games, but have yet to keep a clean sheet this season. Tension between the fans and the board also hangs over the build-up.

Elche arrive with seven points from nine matches, courtesy of one win, four draws and four defeats. They are 18th with a goal difference of -6.

Their weakness is at home, where they have no wins, one draw and three defeats from four games, conceding 11 goals. On the road they have one win, three draws and one defeat, scoring seven and conceding six.

Martin Anselmi's side come off two goalless draws, against Celta Vigo and Villarreal. Two games without conceding is something they had not managed in their previous three top-flight seasons. Before that, they won 3-1 at Espanyol, and Fer Nino is their top scorer with five.

The home side won all five of the most recent league meetings. Elche won 4-0 in December 2025 and in April 2023, while Rayo won 1-0 at Vallecas on 3 April 2026, with Randy Nteka scoring. This is a direct fight for survival.

Team news

Beñat San Jose is without Batalla, who has a broken calf bone, and Luiz Felipe, who has a knee injury. Nteka, with a back problem, is listed as out by some outlets and doubtful by others. Ratiu, with a muscle injury, is also a doubt and Balliu could keep his place at right-back.

Pathe Ciss is listed as suspended by some outlets, while others include him in the XI, so confirmation is worth waiting for. If he misses out, Oscar Valentin is the named replacement. Jorge de Frutos is another concern and Tsitaishvili is an alternative.

For Elche, Marc Aguado is the confirmed absentee with an ankle ligament injury picked up against Villarreal, and he will be out for several weeks. Anselmi has the rest of his squad available. Federico Redondo is expected to stay at centre-back alongside Chust, and Fer Nino could return up front in place of Abiel Osorio.