Rayo Vallecano and Real Valladolid come into this match in starkly different forms.

Rayo are riding an impressive eight-game unbeaten streak in La Liga—a remarkable feat for a club of their stature. But this isn't just luck; they've been performing well. Despite keeping only one clean sheet in this run, they've found ways to secure results, winning four and drawing four.

On the other hand, Valladolid are in disarray. A midseason coaching change hasn’t sparked any improvement—if anything, things have worsened. Their only bright spot was a surprising home win against Betis, but they’ve since fallen into a three-game losing streak.

Away from home, Valladolid have been particularly poor, boasting just one win in 11 games and a worrying goal difference of 8:32. They concede an average of 2.9 goals per away match—an alarming statistic for a struggling side.

To make matters worse, history isn't on their side either. Rayo Vallecano have won the last three head-to-head encounters, further strengthening their case as favorites in this matchup.