Rayo Vallecano will aim to end their three-game winless streak when they host Osasuna in Monday's La Liga fixture. Meanwhile, the visitors will be targeting a second straight victory after beating Celta Vigo in their final outing before the international break.

Inigo Perez has experienced a mixed start to his first full season as Rayo boss. His side has won one, drawn one, and lost two of their opening four matches. Rayo kicked off the campaign with a narrow 2-1 away victory over Real Sociedad, before they had to settle for a goalless draw in their away meeting with Getafe. Los Franjirrojos have been unable to add to their points tally since their first two matches after falling to a 2-1 defeat in their meetings with Barcelona and Espanyol, despite taking the lead in both matches.

Perez will be concerned by the fact that his team have conceded three of their five goals in the final 15 minutes of matches, highlighting an area for improvement if they are to start picking up points with regularity. With Rayo keen to return to winning ways, they may be able to draw inspiration from the fact that they have won their last two home meetings against Osasuna, including a 2-1 victory in April when they scored two late goals to win from a losing position.

Osasuna head coach Vicente Moreno would have been fully aware of the importance of making a positive start following his dismissal as Almeria boss after the first seven games of last season. Fortunately for Moreno, he has experienced a better start to the 2024-25 campaign, having seen his side take seven points from their opening four matches.

Osasuna kicked off the campaign with a 1-1 draw against newly-promoted Leganes, before they recorded a 1-0 victory over a Mallorca side coached by Moreno's predecessor Jagoba Arrasate. After being stopped in their tracks by a heavy 4-0 away defeat to Girona, Osasuna provided a positive response in their outing before the international break, clinching a 3-2 home win over Celta Vigo thanks to a debut strike for Enzo Boyomo, an own goal and an Abel Bretones effort.

Having played three of their first four matches at El Sadar, Los Rojillos will now head to the capital for Monday's meeting with Rayo at Estadio de Vallecas, where they will attempt to claim their first head-to-head away win since recording a 3-0 victory in February 2022.

Team News

Rayo defender Alfonso Espino has been ruled out for around two months with an injury that he sustained in the defeat to Espanyol. Pep Chavarria replaced Espino in the 35th minute at the RCDE Stadium Stadium, and is now set to be given a run of games on the left side of defence. The hosts are also without the services of midfielder Diego Mendez, while defender Aridane Hernandez is a doubt.

James Rodriguez is expected to feature in the matchday squad, and there is a possibility that he could come off the bench to make his Rayo debut and first La Liga appearance. As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon the midfield duo of Kike Barja and Iker Munoz due to knee and foot injuries respectively.

Iker Benito is struggling with a hamstring issue and is a doubt for Monday's fixture, while there is also uncertainty surrounding the availability of Ante Budemir, who picked up a muscle problem while on international duty. If the Croatia striker is unable to start, Moreno may present Raul Garcia with the chance to make his first start of the season.

Possible Lineups

Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup: Cardenas; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mumin, Chavarria; Valentina, Lopez; De Frutos, Palazon, Garcia; Camello

Osasuna possible starting lineup: Herrera; Areso, Catena, Boyomo, Bretons; Torro, Moncayola; Ru. Garcia, Oroz; Zaragoza; Ra. Garcia

Prediction

Osasuna may have avoided defeat in three of their first four league matches, but that solitary loss did take place in their only away game of the season. Los Rojillos have also lost their last two away games against Rayo, and we think that they could experience another disappointing trip to Vallecas on Monday.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Key Insights: A Look at the Data

The stats paint a compelling picture for this game. Here's what we know so far:

• Rayo Vallecano's Defense Struggles: Rayo has conceded three of their five goals in the final 15 minutes of matches, indicating defensive lapses. This might offer Osasuna a chance to exploit them.

• Osasuna's Away Form: Osasuna's solitary defeat this season came in their only away game. Their past two away games against Rayo also ended in losses, making this a tricky test.

• Individual Players to Watch: Rayo's Raul de Tomas and Osasuna's Raul Garcia are both known for their goal-scoring ability, so their performances could be decisive.

The Bottom Line

The stage is set for an intriguing La Liga encounter. While Rayo Vallecano will be eager to bounce back from their recent struggles, Osasuna's away form raises concerns. The key could lie in Rayo's ability to shore up their late-game defense and Osasuna's capacity to break through Rayo's home advantage. Ultimately, this clash promises an exciting battle with potential for surprises.

Be sure to check back for updates and analysis throughout the week, leading up to the big match!