Rayo Vallecano’s late surge towards La Liga heights faces a stiff challenge when the team hosts Athletic Bilbao on this Friday. At one stage in the season, as recently as February earlier this year, they appeared down and out. They were one of the surefire candidates for relegation, having managed just six wins, two draws and 17 defeats in the first 25 games of the season.

Since March 2014, they have made a remarkable come-back by winning seven and drawing two of their next 10 games. The fine run towards the end of the season has not only made their position safe but offered them an opportunity to push for a top-ten finish.

Vallecano is ninth in the league now, with 43 points. They are ahead of Celta Vigo only on goal difference.

Athletic Bilbao has almost secured the fourth position, and a subsequent place in the Champions League qualifying round, by beating their nearest competitor Sevilla last week.

They do not want themselves to be another victim in Vallecano’s recent folklore-like streak. All the recent matches between these teams were tough affairs, with both the teams exchanging punches and counter punches.

Bilbao’s striker Aritz Aduriz has stepped up his game in recent times, which helped the team to cope with the injury forced absence of Ibai Gomez. Iker Muniaín too made a good come back last week against Sevilla. Both will be fancy their chances against a defense that has conceded a staggering 71 goals in the season. Bilbao appears a settled team with a strong attacking line-up.

Joaquin Larrivey and Alberto Bueno have spear-headed Vallecano’s recent success. They will be the key to Vallecano’s success against Bilbao. Midfielder Jonathan Viera’s injury is a worry for the team.

Sevilla-Valencia Prediction

In the last couple of months, the only team that has defeated Rayo is Real Madrid. Bilbao has to dish out a Real-Madrid-like performance to conquer Vallecano. Based on the teams’ recent form, a draw will be a fair result.

Draw 3.60 @ Bet365

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