The 2024-25 La Liga season is full of thrilling action, with some teams battling for the top position and others fighting to avoid the relegation zone. Every week, La Liga surprises us with standout performances and dramatic moments. However, this week, we will witness an unexpected twist to the season. As you all know, unpredictable weather conditions, specifically Storm DANA, have caused significant disruptions and postponed several matches. The matches between Espanyol and Valencia and Villarreal and Rayo Vallecano have drawn notable interest. This article thoroughly examines the reasons behind the delays, the teams participating, their performance this season, and what to anticipate when these matches finally occur.
Valencia CF requested to delay their match against Espanyol, highlighting the importance of assisting those impacted by the storm. The club stressed that football takes a backseat during such difficult times and urged that all focus be on supporting the victims. In a heartwarming display of unity, the Royal Spanish Football Federation agreed to postpone the match, vowing to set a new date in coordination with the clubs, La Liga, and the federation. The game between Valencia and Espanyol is scheduled for December 18, 2024, at RCDE Stadium (Cornella de Llobregat).
In a similar vein, Villarreal CF’s game against Rayo Vallecano was postponed because of the severe damage inflicted by the storm. Despite this, like the first team, the club’s B and women’s teams showed resilience in adversity. The Spanish Football Federation and the Valencian Football Federation jointly decided to suspend all matches in the impacted area, prioritizing safety and recovery efforts. Villarreal CF expressed their solidarity with the victims and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting recovery initiatives. They will also play their game on December 18, 2024, at Estadio de la Ceramica (Villarreal). If you are a sports enthusiast following La Liga, you can check our website for the upcoming 2024-25 La Liga Matchday 18 event details, odds, and predictions.
Villarreal vs. Rayo Vallecano – Event Details
Teams: Villarreal vs. Rayo Vallecano
Date: December 18, 2024 (Wednesday)
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET | 12:30 p.m. PT | 2:00 a.m. IST (Next Day)
Venue: Estadio de la Ceramica (Villarreal)
Espanyol de Barcelona vs. Valencia – Event Details
Teams: Espanyol de Barcelona vs. Valencia
Date: December 18, 2024 (Wednesday)
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET | 12:30 p.m. PT | 2:00 a.m. IST (Next Day)
Venue: RCDE Stadium (Cornella de Llobregat)
Prediction
Villarreal vs. Rayo Vallecano
For the matchday 12 game, Villarreal will take Rayo Vallecano in the postponed game of the 2024-25 La Liga encounter on December 18, 2024, at Estadio de la Ceramica (Villarreal).
Championship Won
- Villarreal: 0 La Liga title
- Rayo Vallecano: 0 La Liga title
Rayo Vallecano ranks 13th in La Liga and has not reached peak performance this season. They secured a commendable 3-3 draw against Real Madrid over the weekend, which should boost their confidence for this upcoming match. Villarreal, sitting in sixth place, has improved this season. However, they suffered a setback in their last game, losing 2-1 to Real Betis, and will need to recover quickly this week. Reviewing their head-to-head history, Villarreal boasts a strong recent performance against Vallecano, winning 14 of the last 23 encounters, while Rayo Vallecano has secured only five victories. However, Villarreal lost two of their last four La Liga matches against Rayo Vallecano, matching the losses they experienced in the preceding 17 matchups.
Following a winless streak of two home matches against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, Villarreal has secured eight victories in their last nine home games. In contrast, Rayo Vallecano has managed to win just one of their last 17 away matches versus teams from Valencia in La Liga, with that sole victory being a 1-0 triumph over Villarreal in January 2023. This season, Villarreal’s offense was impressive, placing them fourth in the offense table with 28 total goals conceded and an average of 1.8 points per game. However, their primary issue was in their defense, where so far, they conceded 27 total goals with an average of 1.7 points per game. Rayo Vallecano scored 18 total goals with an average of 1.1 points per game and conceded only 19 total with a defensive average of 1.2 points per game. Therefore, considering overall performances, Villarreal has an edge to win this game.
Espanyol de Barcelona vs. Valencia
Espanyol will face Valencia on December 18, 2024, at RCDE Stadium (Cornella de Llobregat) in the postponed matchday 13 of the 2024-25 La Liga showdown.
Championship Won
- Espanyol de Barcelona: 0 La Liga title
- Valencia: 6 La Liga titles
This season was quite disappointing for Espanyol de Barcelona and Valencia because both are in the relegation battle, making every upcoming game crucial to move up their standing. Espanyol de Barcelona is currently standing in the 18th place with a record of only four wins, two draws, and ten losses. In round 17, they faced Osasuna, where the game ended in a goalless draw. Even though both teams could not be on the winning side, their strong defensive performance was exceptional. Both teams had several goal attempts on the game day, but unfortunately, they could not convert their chances into goals. Espanyol had 41% ball possession, nine goal attempts, and three shots on goal. In their last five games in all competitions, Espanyol de Barcelona secured one victory against Celta Vigo, and the other games ended with three defeats and one draw. Looking over their performance, they are in 16th place in the offense table, with 15 total goals scored and an average of 0.9 per game.
Defensively, they are standing in the bottom second place with 28 total goals conceded and an average of 1.8 goals conceded per game. In addition to this, Valencia has yet to play their round 12 game with Real Madrid, which is scheduled for January 4, 2024. On the other hand, Valencia is standing at the bottom of the La Liga table with two wins, four draws, and nine losses. They suffered their second straight defeat to Valladolid during their previous encounter, scoring 0-1. Valencia fought hard to level the score but found it challenging to penetrate Valladolid’s strong defense, ultimately failing to capitalize on their opportunities. On the game day, they had ball possession of 67% with 14 goal attempts and two shots on goal. So far, they marked 13 goals with an offensive average of 0.9 points per game and conceded 23 total goals with an average of 1.5 points per game. Considering both teams’ current form and the importance of the match, it could be a tight game, so the outcome will be a draw.
