The 2025/26 La Liga season kicks off on Friday night as Girona take on Rayo Vallecano at the Estadi Montilivi.

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• Rayo Vallecano took four points off Girona last season

• When these sides last met at the Montilivi Stadium, it finished 0-0 

• Rayo Vallecano had the third-best defensive record in away games last season in La Liga. 

Girona kick off their season at the Montilivi Stadium, hoping to improve on their previous campaign, which saw them finish 17th.

This opening-day contest is set to be a tight affair, with the hosts priced at 2.35 for victory, while Vallecano are narrow underdogs at 3.10.

🔴 Girona Lacking Confidence

After a remarkable 23/24 campaign in which Girona shocked Spanish football by finishing 3rd, even above Atletico Madrid, the club faced a turbulent summer. Artem Dovbyk, Aleix Garcia, Eric Garcia and Savinho were among the high-profile departures - Girona’s spine had been decimated, leaving significant gaps in the squad. 

While a drop-off in form seemed likely, the scale of Girona’s decline was staggering. The team endured 19 league defeats last season, more than relegated Leganes, ending the campaign just a single point clear of the drop zone. Defensive frailties proved costly - 60 goals conceded was the third-worst defensive record in La Liga.

Miguel Gutierrez, one of the few remaining players from that 23/24 season, is set to join Napoli just before the season starts. The 24-year-old contributed one goal and five assists from fullback last season - another blow for manager Michel to cope with.

⚪ A Frustrating Opponent to Face

Following their positive end to the previous season, and having beaten Sunderland 3-0 in their final pre-season friendly, Rayo Vallecano will enter the new season with confidence. Last term, they conceded just 45 goals across 38 matches - an impressive average of 1.18 goals against per game.

That figure tightened further on their travels, with only 1.0 goals conceded per away match, reflecting a pragmatic and disciplined approach when playing outside Vallecas. 

This defensive solidity was the foundation for their joint-best finish in Spanish top-flight history, securing 8th place and a spot in the Conference League. Vallecano have so far maintained a lot of their squad from last season, signing goalkeeper Augusto Batalla on a permanent deal after his standout loan spell.

With a proven defensive structure, Vallecano will aim not only to match last season’s achievements, but to push further up the league table under the guidance of Inigo Perez.

📊 Girona v Rayo Vallecano H2H

Girona have generally had the upper hand in this matchup when these sides have met in La Liga, winning four out of the eight contests.

However, Vallecano have been the more successful in recent faceoffs, securing a victory when these sides last met at the Vallecas Stadium, before a goalless stalemate in the reverse fixture.

Football Predictions at Andy's Bet Club

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This Friday's coverage on ABC includes an Eerste Goals Acca, Liverpool v Bournemouth Bet Builder Tips, Villarreal v Real Oviedo Quick Tips, a Friday Euro Acca, and Gem Bets.

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* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.

* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.