Rayo Majadahonda vs Sporting Gijon
Spanish Copa del Rey
Date: Thursday, 18 October 2018
Kick-Off at 19:00 UK / 20:00 CET
Venue: Estadio Wanda Metropolitano (Madrid).
Rayo Majadahonda and Sporting Gijon both beat former La Liga sides in the last round of the Copa del Rey, but whoever wins on Thursday will be in with a chance of taking on one of the current top division clubs in the next round as that is when they enter the competition. The two clubs are competing in the same division for the first time in their history this season, and just last month Rayo Majadahonda beat Sporting Gijon 2-1 at home in the Segunda Division.
Rayo Majadahonda left it late as they recorded back to back wins in the league for the first time this season, beating Real Oviedo with a stoppage time strike. Visitors Real Oviedo just edged this tight and tense affair with 57% of the overall possession and more shots on target than Rayo Majadahonda, but still ended up with no points to show for their efforts.
The two sides went in level at the break with neither able to break down the others defence effectively, and while the visitors looked the more likely to score they gave away far too many fouls and always looked like they would concede from a set piece.
Both teams continued from where they left off in the second forty-five, with Real Oviedo seeing more of the ball and Rayo Majadahonda always looking most threatening from set pieces. The winning goal came against the run of play and earned the hosts an unexpected three points, when Luso netted in the first minute of stoppage time.
Rayo are looking to make it three wins on the trot in all competitions, which is in stark contrast to their three previous games all of which ended in defeat. Isaac Carcelén top scores for the hosts with three goals in all competitions and will provide the focal point of their attacks on Thursday. Carlos Carmona also has three goals this season and top scores for Sporting Gijon, but each of his strikes have arrived in the Segunda Division.
Carmona was on hand to earn Sporting Gijon a point at the weekend when they played host to Reus Deportiu. The home side dominated the entire ninety minutes and should have been 1-0 up at the break, but Serbia’s Đurđević missed a first half stoppage time penalty.
The visitors number nine Miguel Linares scored the opening goal of the game in the sixty-eighth minute and looked to have won the match for Reus Deportiu. However, a second penalty was awarded to Sporting deep into second half stoppage time and Carmona was given the responsibility this time and made no mistake from twelve yards.
Sporting Gijon will feel as if they missed out on a great opportunity for three points against Reus Deportiu, after dominating the match with 57% of the overall possession and sixteen shots to the visitors four. If Sporting can find their scoring boots and put in another performance like that on Thursday then they have a great chances of progressing through to the next round of the Copa del Rey.
We’re confident that both teams will score in this cup tie, and have backed the game to end in a 1-1 draw. Both teams have scored in three of Rayo Majadahonda’s and three of Sporting Gijon’s last six matches. Both teams also scored when the pair met earlier this month in the Segunda Division, and we’re expecting the same to happen in the Copa del Rey on Thursday.
Rayo Majadahonda vs Sporting Gijon: Head-to-head
The two sides played each other for the first time ever ten days ago when Rayo Majadahonda took a 2-1 victory on the home patch.
Aitor Garcia and Isaac Carcelen bagged goals for the hosts, while Carlos Carmona only managed to find the consolation goals for Los Rojiblancos.
Rayo Majadahonda vs Sporting Gijon: Prediction
Majariegos look to have gained the winning mentality as they offered two pressure-free displays in back-to-back wins over Gijon and Oviedo in Segunda Division. The head coach Antonio Iriondo can be thrilled with his men’s defensive showings in these ties as the team shipped just one goal along.
Sporting, on the other side, notched just two goals in four away games in the league. We will thus back Rayo Majadahonda not to lose at the 1.57 odds, while you can alternatively shoot for the Under 2.5 goals FT bet at 1.53.