On Thursday, Jagiellonia Bialystok will face Rayo Vallecano in a crucial Conference League match at the Stadion Miejski in Poland. The home team is currently ninth in the standings, just outside the last-16 qualification spots. They share eight points with three other teams within striking distance of the top eight.
Match Preview: Jagiellonia Bialystok vs Rayo Vallecano
Jagiellonia started the Conference League main draw with a narrow victory over Hamrun Spartans. They followed that with two 1-1 draws away at Strasbourg and Shkendija. Recently, they returned to winning ways in the League Phase, securing a 1-0 victory against KuPS thanks to Afimico Pululu’s goal.
However, Jagiellonia struggled in their last three matches, failing to secure any wins. This included drawing 0-0 with Zaglebie Lubin and losing two consecutive fixtures to GKS Katowice and Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza. The team seeks to regain momentum in front of their home crowd, where they have excelled lately, with six wins in their last seven competitive matches.
Jagiellonia’s Home Form
- League Phase: One of five teams yet to concede at home
- Recent form: W D D W
- Overall competitions form: W W W D L L
Rayo Vallecano, on the other hand, is participating in their first European campaign since the 2000-01 season. They started strong in the Conference League, remaining unbeaten in their opening three matches. This included home victories against Shkendija and Lech Poznan, as well as a 2-2 draw with Hacken. However, their unbeaten streak ended with a defeat to Slovan Bratislava, which put them a point behind the top eight.
Rayo Vallecano’s Recent Performances
- Last League Match: 1-0 defeat against Espanyol
- Away Form: Winless in five away games (three matches without scoring)
- Conference League form: D W W L
Injuries are a concern for Rayo, with players like Abdul Mumin, Randy Nteka, and Pedro Diaz potentially unavailable. Coach Inigo Perez may rotate the squad for this fixture, considering their injury challenges. Possible starters include Ivan Balliu, Jozhua Vertrouwd, and Sergio Camello, aiming to freshen up their lineup.
Possible Lineups
| Jagiellonia Bialystok | Rayo Vallecano |
|---|---|
| Abramowicz | Batalla |
| Wojtuszek | Balliu |
| Stojinovic | Lejeune |
| Vital | Vertrouwd |
| Wdowik | Chavarria |
| Flach | Lopez |
| Romanczuk | Gumbau |
| Imaz | De Frutos |
| Pietuszewski | Palazon |
| Palulu | Perez |
| – | Camello |
The matchup is expected to be intense as both teams aim to secure vital points. While Jagiellonia enjoys a solid home record, Rayo aims to break their away winless streak. A hard-fought draw seems likely, with predictions leaning toward a 2-2 outcome.
