Na official lineup for RCD Espanyol don land, and coach Manolo González go take the team go Butarque to face Rayo. Kickoff na 19:00. Dem move match go Butarque because dem no lift the measure wey suspend the concession of Vallecas.
Even though Espanyol win 0-2 for El Sadar, Manolo do small revolution for the starting eleven. Edu Expósito, Tyrhys Dolan and Marcos Fernández go start from bench. Marcos Fernández na im assist the first of Roberto Fernández two goals against Osasuna.
Inside their place, Gabriel Moscardo enter join Urko González de Zárate. Rafa Bauza also enter, and Javi Hernández shift go right wing. Quilindschy Hartman start for first time since e arrive from Burnley. Before kickoff, the Dutchman likely go double left side in front of Roger Hinojo.
So Espanyol go line up for wetin look like 4-2-3-1: Dmitrovic; Omar El Hilali, Riedel, Cabrera, Hinojo; Urko, Moscardo; Javi Hernández, Bauza, Hartman and Roberto. Roberto na the Pichichi for blanquiazul with five goals in five matchdays.
For Rayo side, the players na: Audero; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mujaid, Pedrosa; Pathé Ciss, Unai López; Tsitaishvili, Pedro Díaz, Álvaro García and Camello. Camello get one goal pass Roberto for im account, with six.
Rayo and Espanyol go meet for Butarque, inside Leganés, as another exile for the Vallecano side. The game go also be contest between two of the Spanish strikers wey dey hottest for the league, Sergio Camello and Roberto Fernández. Camello don score six goals and Roberto don score five for the first five matchdays.
Na third time this season Rayo go play as local team for Butarque. Earlier, dem face Alavés and Real Racing Club de Santander there. Rayo draw 1-1 with Alavés and win 3-2 against Real Racing Club de Santander. Na only four points Rayo get for classification, because dem lose all three away games.
For this match, Beñat San José still get plenty absentees. Defender Jozhua Vertrouwd, winger Isi Palazón, Angolan attacker Randy Nteka and Argentine goalkeeper Augusto Batalla no dey available because of injury. Batalla just undergo operation for fracture in right tibia. Attacking midfielder Jorge de Frutos join dem, as e still get one match suspension.
But one good news dey: Rayo recover winger Fran Pérez. E serve suspension for Bernabéu, but e fit sit on bench because Georgian Georgiy Tsitaishvili perform well. Tsitaishvili be one of the standout players against Real Madrid, alongside Sergio Camello, wey don score six goals in first five league matchdays.
If Rayo wan find victory, dem must stop the goals wey dem dey chop. Two against Sevilla, one against Alavés, five against Barcelona, two against Real Racing Club de Santander and four against Real Madrid dey for their conceded column. That one mean average of 2.8 per match, a figure wey no good for team wey target na to stay for league.
Espanyol, for their own side, go visit Rayo Vallecano with target to continue climb toward nine points out of nine for one week of three matches. Dem beat Osasuna 0-2, dem go face the Madrid team, and on Friday dem go host Elche for RCDE Stadium. The last win don give the blanquiazul players wings; dem reach the Rayo game with high morale and football wey dey improve.
The plenty matches go also test the physical level of the periquita squad early for season. The name to watch for this matchday na clearly striker Roberto Fernández. The blanquiazul attacker score double against Osasuna and don accumulate five goals this season, making am the best offensive argument for the Catalans. E dey inspired and e want continue im run against Rayo Vallecano.
Coach Manolo González no go fit count on forwards Kike García and Javi Puado, as both dey injured. E also no go get central Andoni Gorosabel, wey dey find competition rhythm, and midfielder Jofre Carreras, wey get last-minute pubis discomfort.
Meanwhile, the history between the two teams dey balanced. For the last five times wey Espanyol visit Rayo, the balance na two wins for each team and one draw. The last duel, for 2025-26 season, end with local win 1-0.
