- Rayo Vallecano are unbeaten in three, beating Getafe 2-0, then Strasbourg 1-0 in the 1st Leg of this semi-final before holding Real Sociedad to a 3-3 tie at the weekend
- Strasbourg are 8th in Ligue 1 with 46 points from 30 matches, a solid finish for a team with a European campaign to handle
- Rayo hold a mid-table LaLiga position, defying expectations with a deep European campaign and performing with determination
First-ever meeting between clubs goes to Rayo after home win
Rayo Vallecano are one goal away from a surprise final after beating Strasbourg 1-0 in last Thursday’s first leg and then going on to hold Real Sociedad to a 3-3 draw on Sunday.
Iñigo Pérez’s side have put the Vallecas neighborhood on a roll with their historic run and the emotional drive will be to drive them onto another big result at the Stade de la Meinau on Thursday. Moreover, the Racing Club Strasbourg vs Rayo Vallecano prediction certainly favors Rayo’s confidence heading into the second leg.
However, Strasbourg are a young, fearless team under Gary O’Neil and have already recovered from deficits in earlier rounds of the competition.
Goals at both ends likely with Rayo good on set pieces
The young keeper Mike Penders has produced some huge saves in Europe this term and kept them in the tie in the first leg with another. The market expects both teams to score in Thursday’s second leg with BTTS - Yes trading at 1.74, but there could be few chances with both clubs capable of defending well.
Rayo are a possession-based team with width, patient when they need to be, but they can also be direct and are lethal on set plays. This Racing Club Strasbourg vs Rayo Vallecano preview highlights how Rayo will be looking to control the tempo, especially after half-time when Strasbourg must come on in search of an equaliser.
This could be a chess match with Rayo’s compact high press forcing Strasbourg into rotations and allowing false nine Julio Enciso to create overloads and vertical passing lanes to get in behind. Our Racing Club Strasbourg vs Rayo Vallecano prediction notes both teams will need to seize set-piece opportunities to make a difference.
Rayo’s 1-0 aggregate lead gives them the edge
Strasbourg are the clear favorites at 1.95 to win this second leg, with the visitors at 3.97 and the draw at 3.77 - and those prices reflect the home field advantage. However, Rayo hold the 1-0 lead on aggregate and that could be enough to edge them through, although there is nothing to separate them in terms of value.
Any goals look likely to be set-piece goals and Strasbourg are good enough to find a way to score in the second half if they need to. But Rayo’s aerial prowess from corners and free-kicks will be a threat throughout the 90 minutes with Alemão always lurking.
This Racing Club Strasbourg vs Rayo Vallecano prediction also takes into account that Strasbourg have been a bit patchy in recent weeks, alternating a 3-2 win over Lorient with defeats to Toulouse, Nice and Rennes and their first-leg defeat to Rayo. They could push for an early goal and then settle to defend while Rayo will be content to defend compactly and look to counter.
Isi Palazon is Rayo’s creative hub and set-piece specialist, delivering the corner from which Alemão’s header gave them the first-leg win and he is likely to be their chief creator in Europe again. Strasbourg have Panichelli, the energetic Emmanuel Emegha and creative spark Julio Enciso to offer in the final third and all three have scored or assisted in the knockout rounds. For those searching for Racing Club Strasbourg vs Rayo Vallecano betting tips, the match appears finely poised for a low-scoring outcome with potential for extra time.
Back both teams to score at around the same price, but a low-scoring affair seems likely with the weather set to be cool and damp at the ground. Strasbourg will need to push forward after the break and that should suit Rayo, who are good at frustrating teams after half-time. A 1-0 win for the home side would take the game to extra time due to the abolition of the away-goals rule, so every attack will count and both coaches will be aware of that.
