Saturday’s Bet of the Day: Barcelona to win both halves at Rayo Vallecano
With Rayo's defence enduring a torrid time, backing Barca to win both halves should see some healthy profit
This week’s bet of the day takes us to the district of Vallecas, to a football stadium where the atmosphere is as unique as exists on the Iberian peninsular. It is not just that the fans of Rayo Vallecano support their team with an intense fervour that is clearly lacking in some of the country’s more illustrious stadiums, but the fact that being a Rayista is a statement against the establishment.
At the Estadio Vallecas, anti fascist chants are as common as finding the man sitting next to you smoking a special fragrant home made cigarette and is to this home of liberal practices which Barcelona will arrive on Saturday evening.
Sadly for all involved with the club, Rayo look to have a real struggle on their hands this season to avoid relegation, a fate they escaped in the final seconds of the previous campaign with a goal from the now departed Raul Tamudo. The veteran striker was one of a trio of forwards who left the club in the summer (Michu and Diego Costa the others) who took with them well over half the goals that Ray netted in the previous campaign.
Yet their problems this season have been at the back where they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five matches, conceding 16 goals in the process. This then will be music to Catalan ears, with Barcelona surely fancying their chances of netting a few goals in the capital this evening.
| Primera Division | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Espanyol win | £115.00 | (19/4) | ||
| Draw | £80.00 | (3/1) | ||
| Barcelona win | £31.00 | (11/20) | ||
| Espanyol | 0-0 | Barcelona | £290.00 | (27/2) |
| Espanyol | 1-0 | Barcelona | £460.00 | (22/1) |
| Espanyol | 1-1 | Barcelona | £150.00 | (13/2) |
Though Barca have in recent weeks carved out an unexpected niche as the comeback kings of Europe there will surely be little need for another dramatic late winner against a side who conceded six times at Valladolid last month, and three goals at previously win-less and bottom of the table Espanyol last week.
The price of 5/4 for Barcelona to win both halves here looks an absolute gift, with this bet paying out comfortably in both of the meetings between these two sides last season which Barca won by an aggregate scoreline of 11-0.