Granada CF (home)
- Granada CF’s recent form across all competitions has been mixed (2 wins, 2 defeats, 1 draw) with most games being tight and tense.
- Granada CF sit in mid-lower table of LaLiga2 with about 20 points from 17-18 games this season, reflecting a challenging campaign in a tough second-tier division.
Rayo Vallecano (away)
- Rayo Vallecano have also been inconsistent recently, winning Conference League games, losing 4-0 at Elche in LaLiga and drawing 1-1 at Getafe.
- They are a 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 side that can be really aggressive in terms of pressing and making turnovers, but also have the discipline and quality to play with a more structured shape and get bodies behind the ball.
Head-to-Head
Rayo’s last three head-to-heads with Granada have produced two wins and a draw - the latest being a 2-1 victory in May 2024 .
Granada CF
- Sergio Ruiz, a midfielder with significant minutes this season, is the fulcrum of everything they do while Pablo Sáenz and Pau Casadesús are the mainstays at full-back in a compact structure that is tough to get through.
- Jorge Pascual is their leading scorer this term and he has the clinical touch to keep them in the tie if the game is tight.
Rayo Vallecano
- Florian Lejeune and Andrei Rațiu are the heart and soul of their defence, but Rayo’s attacking quality comes from all over the field.
- Jorge de Frutos leads the team in goals and can play anywhere across the frontline or in a number 10 role, while Álvaro García and Isi Palazón bring the creativity and goals.
Betting Insights
- Rayo Vallecano are the slight favorites for Tuesday’s Copa del Rey round of 32 tie at 2.47 with Granada CF valued at 3.14 and the draw 3.24.
- A single-elimination match to the last 16 of the Copa del Rey 2025-26 adds extra spice and nerves to what will already be a tense occasion for the two clubs.
Prediction
We have to side with Rayo’s greater quality and historical dominance in this fixture - even though the hosts have home field advantage and cup games can be funny, and a draw after 90 minutes is a clear possibility ( perhaps 1-1 ).
