Rayo Vallecano - Deportivo Alaves

Can Rayo Vallecano recover from their opening day setback when they host Deportivo Alaves on 20 August 2026? The hosts are expected to field an attacking setup featuring Randy Nteka and Isi Palazon, supported by the midfield energy of Unai Lopez and Oscar Valentin. Defensively, the side relies on the experience of Florian Lejeune to anchor the backline against a visiting attack led by Aitor Manas and Antonio Martinez. Deportivo Alaves arrive with confidence after a dominant win over Getafe, looking to maintain their momentum through the control of Antonio Blanco and Denis Suarez in the middle of the park.

The head-to-head record suggests a tight contest, with Rayo Vallecano securing a 2-1 victory in their most recent LaLiga meeting on 23 May 2026. While the visitors will be buoyed by their strong start, the home side will aim to leverage the atmosphere at Campo de Futbol de Vallecas to secure their first points of the campaign. Both teams will be eager to establish early consistency in this matchday 2 encounter, where tactical discipline in midfield will likely determine which side dictates the tempo.