Girona vs Rayo Vallecano Prediction & Betting Tips (17 January)

Girona never ceases to amaze everyone and clings to this 1st place... Michel Sanchez's team is 1 point ahead of Real Madrid who have a match in hand to play. Dovbyk's 11-goal partners, however, had their butts very hot at bottom-placed Almeria where they were heavily dominated in a meeting "without" for the leader. Girona has not lost in 15 matches, since September 30, and will play its first Spanish Cup match at home after 3 previous qualifiers at San Roque 1-2, at Orihuela 2-5 and at Elche 0- 2 on January 6.

At home, Girona remains on 3 good victories over Valencia FC 2-1, ahead of Deportivo Alaves 3-0 and against Atlético Madrid 4-3. Rayo Vallecano have lost 2 of their last 3 trips in La Liga to Bilbao 4-0 and to Osasuna 1-0. After fearless rounds on the lawns of Atletico de Lugones 0-6 and Yeclano 0-2, the current 11th in Liga struggled to take Huesca away and resorted to extra time 0-2 thanks to two very late achievements from Valentin 118th and Palazon 120th+2. This is the second success in a row for Vallecano after a 0-2 performance at Getafe on the last day of the championship on January 2.

When Rayo Vallecano come calling in the Copa del Rey, excitement tends to be in short supply, with at least one of the two teams pitching a shutout in 14 of their previous 19 away games. It has been a similar story as far as Girona are concerned on their own patch of late, with both teams on target in just two of their last nine matches at this level, so something similar seems likely.