Real Sociedad vs Rayo Vallecano Prediction 16 January 2025

🔊 Which team will secure a spot in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey? One of the most intriguing matchups of the current stage of the tournament will be the clash between Real Sociedad and Rayo Vallecano. Both clubs have been extremely resilient in their recent matches, which only heightens interest in the game. The referee team, led by Francisco Maeso, will be responsible for making key decisions to ensure justice. The bookmakers had no difficulty identifying a clear favorite in their preliminary predictions: a victory for the "royals" - 1.68, a victory for the "bees" - 5.5.

📊 H2H

The teams have already faced each other in the opening round of La Liga. Back then, the "bees" managed to achieve a somewhat unexpected result (2:1). It's worth noting that Rayo Vallecano has not lost to Real Sociedad in their last three matches. In the 21st century, the clubs have met in the Copa del Rey. In the second round of the 2009/10 season, the capital team defeated the "white and blues."

🔵 REAL SOCIEDAD

In the last round of La Liga, Real Sociedad achieved a hard-fought victory over Villarreal (1:0). The only goal of the match was scored by Takefusa Kubo. Currently, the "royals" are in 7th place in the national championship standings. In the Copa del Rey, the "white and blues" managed to neutralize Xove (5:0), Conquense (1:0 AET), and Ponferradina (2:0). Effective defensive actions and compactness in their lines are primary factors in Sociedad's low number of conceded goals. The most prolific player for the club from San Sebastián is Mikel Oyarzabal (7+4).

🔴 RAYO VALLECANO

In the new calendar year, Rayo Vallecano has been exclusively winning. The club's unbeaten streak across all competitions has reached 7 matches. In the last round of La Liga, the "bees" managed to strengthen their position by defeating Celta (2:1). Now Iñigo Pérez and company are in 9th place in the table. Qualification for the Copa del Rey Round of 16 was made possible by victories over Villamuriel (5:0), Unionistas (3:2), and Ferrol (3:1). The true leaders of the capital team are Jorge De Frutos (6+2) and Isi Palazón (3+3).

⚽️ GOAL PREDICTION

It's important to note that in 5 out of the last 7 head-to-head encounters, goals were scored by both sides. Interestingly, a similar trend is reflected in Rayo Vallecano's last 5 matches. Let's also highlight the respectable scoring performance of each team this season: "royals" - 1.2, "bees" - 1.5. Our choice is both teams to score (yes).

📝 MATCH PREDICTION

This season, Real Sociedad does not appear to be the well-oiled machine we have become accustomed to in recent years. The "bees," on the other hand, are in excellent form and are unlikely to hold anyone in high regard. The last setback for the capital club was recorded over a month ago, which only indicates a favorable situation within the team. Our editorial team predicts a score of 1:1 after 90 minutes. The key bet is Rayo Vallecano victory with a handicap (+1).