Preview: Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano at 21:15 on April 12, La Liga Round 31

Preview: Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano (21:15, April 12). Prediction, expected lineup, expert analysis of the match between Mallorca and Rayo Vallecano in Round 31 of the Spanish National Championship (La Liga) 2025/26.

Preview: Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano

Mallorca is riding high after a stunning 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the previous round. The last-minute goal by the "assassin" Vedat Muriqi not only secured three precious points but also helped Coach Martin Demichelis's team temporarily escape the danger zone. Currently ranked 16th with 31 points, Mallorca is only 2 points clear of the relegation zone, meaning they must fully utilize the advantage of their home ground, Estadi Mallorca Son Moix, to accumulate points for the survival battle.

Their home stadium has been Mallorca's "lucky charm" this season, as they have earned up to 25 points here. Having recently defeated both Espanyol and Real Madrid at home, Mallorca can rightfully be confident when welcoming Rayo Vallecano. However, their defense will suffer a significant loss with key player Martin Valjent suspended, forcing Coach Demichelis to make unavoidable adjustments.

On Rayo Vallecano's side, the visiting team is in a very relaxed mood after a dominant 3-0 win over AEK Athens in the Conference League quarter-final first leg midweek. In La Liga, Coach Inigo Perez's team also secured an important victory against Elche, climbing to 13th place with 35 points. A 6-point gap from the relegation group allows the Madrid-based team to temporarily focus their efforts on the European competition.

However, the demanding schedule of frequent matches will pose a serious physical challenge for Rayo Vallecano. Their away form is also not impressive, with only 3 wins out of 15 away trips this season. Facing a Mallorca that is desperately hungry for points and performs exceptionally well at home, this is predicted to be a stormy journey for "Los Franjirrojos." Despite having a decent recent head-to-head record, their physical fatigue could cause Rayo to falter in the second half.

Squad Status: Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano

Mallorca: Antonio Raillo, Lucas Bergstrom, and Jan Salas are questionable and require last-minute medical checks. Central defender Martin Valjent is definitely absent due to suspension. The standout star Vedat Muriqi – who has scored 19 goals this season – will continue to be the primary hope in the attack.

Rayo Vallecano: Welcome the return of Pathe Ciss after suspension. Diego Mendez (knee injury) and Fran Perez (back pain) are likely to be absent. Alvaro Garcia, who has contributed 12 goals and 11 assists this season, remains the most dangerous spark on the wing.

Expected Lineup: Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano

Mallorca (4-1-3-2): Roman; Maffeo, Kumbulla, Mascarell, Mojica; Darder; S Costa, Morlanes, Torre; Muriqi, Joseph.

Rayo Vallecano (4-3-3): Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Felipe, Chavarria; Lopez, Valentin, Ciss; De Frutos, Nteka, A Garcia.

Head-to-head History and Form: Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano

Mallorca's Form

04/04/26: Mallorca 2-1 Real Madrid (La Liga)

21/03/26: Elche 2-1 Mallorca (La Liga)

15/03/26: Mallorca 2-1 Espanyol (La Liga)

07/03/26: Osasuna 2-2 Mallorca (La Liga)

01/03/26: Mallorca 0-1 Real Sociedad (La Liga)

Rayo Vallecano's Form

09/04/26: Rayo Vallecano 3-0 AEK Athens (Conference League)

04/04/26: Rayo Vallecano 1-0 Elche (La Liga)

22/03/26: Barcelona 1-0 Rayo Vallecano (La Liga)

20/03/26: Rayo Vallecano 0-1 Samsunspor (Conference League)

17/03/26: Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Levante (La Liga)

Head-to-head History: Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano

11/01/26: Rayo Vallecano 2-1 Mallorca (La Liga)

25/05/25: Rayo Vallecano 0-0 Mallorca (La Liga)

20/10/24: Mallorca 1-0 Rayo Vallecano (La Liga)

11/02/24: Mallorca 2-1 Rayo Vallecano (La Liga)

30/09/23: Rayo Vallecano 2-2 Mallorca (La Liga)

Prediction: Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano

Mallorca benefits from a full week of rest and immense excitement after defeating Real Madrid. Conversely, Rayo Vallecano has just exerted themselves in the European arena and may be conserving energy for the return leg in Greece next week. With the "fortress" Son Moix and Muriqi's extremely high scoring form, Mallorca is likely to secure all three points to move closer to their survival goal.

Predicted Score: Mallorca 2-1 Rayo Vallecano