Sevilla vs Rayo Vallecano Prediction & Preview - LaLiga
Sevilla open their LaLiga season at home to Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, 15 August 2026, kick-off 20:30 BST at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. It is round one of the new campaign, and the first meeting between these two sides logged in our archive.
Sevilla vs Rayo Vallecano: the key facts
- Fixture: Sevilla v Rayo Vallecano
- Competition: LaLiga, matchday one
- Date: Saturday, 15 August 2026
- Kick-off: 20:30 BST
- Venue: Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, Seville
Full details and the game itself are on the match page.
What is the Sevilla vs Rayo Vallecano head-to-head record?
There is no previous meeting between Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano in our archive, so this preview leans on how each side has been playing rather than past results between them.
How have Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano been playing?
Sevilla finished 13th in LaLiga last season and sacked head coach Matías Almeyda in March 2026, bringing in Luis Garcia Plaza to replace him. Their pre-season has been mixed: wins over AD Ceuta, Córdoba and NEC Nijmegen, an away win at FC Utrecht, and a 2-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in their last run-out on 8 August. They also lost 1-0 at home to Real Madrid on the final day of last season.
Rayo Vallecano had the better league campaign, finishing eighth, and went on to reach the final of the UEFA Conference League before losing 1-0 to Crystal Palace on 27 May. That run cost them their head coach: Iñigo Pérez left for Villarreal afterwards, and Rayo have brought in Beñat San José as his successor. Pre-season has been shakier than their league form suggests, with a 3-0 defeat to Ipswich Town their most recent outing on 8 August, though they did beat RC Sporting Charleroi 3-2 on 1 August and won 2-1 away at Deportivo Alavés in their last LaLiga fixture proper.
What is the team news for Sevilla vs Rayo Vallecano?
Sevilla will be without Alfon González through a thigh injury. New signing Robbie Ure, who arrives after scoring 31 goals in 50 appearances for IK Sirius, is in contention to start at centre-forward.
Rayo Vallecano are missing Andrei Rațiu through injury, but Isi Palazón is available again after serving the suspension he picked up last season.
Sevilla vs Rayo Vallecano prediction
Rayo Vallecano should edge this LaLiga opener against Sevilla at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. Rayo finished five places and seven points above Sevilla last season and backed that up with a run to a European final, while Sevilla parted with their head coach mid-season and lost their last home league game of the campaign to Real Madrid. Neither side's pre-season form has been convincing, but Rayo's underlying level over the last year has been the stronger of the two.
Our prediction: Sevilla 1-2 Rayo Vallecano
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