Rayo Vallecano players celebrate striker Javi Guerra's goal against Barcelona. (Photo : Getty Images)
Bottom-dwellers Levante UD (2-11-5, 11 points) and Rayo Vallecano (4-11-3, 15 points) are scheduled to meet for a 2015-2016 La Liga match at the Estadi Ciutat de València on Saturday, January 9th as the second half of the season continues.
Levante put up a good fight and lost a close one against current league leaders Atletico Madrid, 0-1, at the latter's Vicente Calderón Stadium last Saturday, as per SkySports.
Substitute midfielder Thomas Partey scored the lone goal of the match nine minutes before full-time, which squashed Levante's hopes of pulling off at least a point against the other powerhouse capital city squad.
It was the fourth straight defeat for Les Granotes, relegating them in the league table's cellar, as they had been winless in their last six outings. Their last victory was way back in November, a 3-0 trouncing of Sporting Gijon.
Meanwhile, Rayo Vallecano had also been struggling, going on seven consecutive winless tries. Their most recent match was a 2-2 draw with Real Sociedad at the Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas on Sunday, as reported by ESPN.
One goal from each side by Rayo's Diego Llorente and Sociedad's Aritz Elustondo secured a 1-1 count at the halftime break. Second goals from both teams courtesy of Rayo's Jozabed and Sociedad's Bruma kept the score tied until full-time as they settled for a point each in the overall standings.
With both team's reeling, one of them will surely welcome the opportunity of a win at the expense of the other.
The predicted result is a 1-0 win for Rayo Vallecano.
Levante starting lineup (4-1-4-1 formation): Marino; Lopez, Trujillo, Feddal, Tono; Mari; Xumetra, Lerma, Verza, Morales; Ghilas
Rayo Vallecano starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Yoel; Quini, Llorente, Ze Castro, Tito; Baena, Trashorras; Lass, Jozabed, Embarba; Guerra
