Rayo Vallecano vs Malaga preview - Home form key for Vallecano

Posted Friday, February 07, 2014 by PA

Rayo Vallecano forward Alberto Bueno has urged his team to make the El Estadio de Vallecas a fortress again, beginning on Saturday against Malaga.

Of the 10 home games Paco Jemez's side have played this season, they have won just two and lost the remaining eight, in stark contrast with last season, in which they picked up 30 points in Vallecas.

Bueno told a press conference: "Normally teams that are near the bottom of the league produce strong performances at home. This year we haven't been able to do that unfortunately, and we have to start doing it from now until the end of the season, because we are up against direct rivals."

Rayo will host six of the teams in the bottom half of the table from now until the end of the season, and first up are Malaga, who thumped the Madrid side 5-0 back in September but are not out of the woods themselves just yet, only four points clear of the relegation zone.

Bernd Schuster's side are one of five teams hovering above the drop zone by four points or less, and Bueno said Rayo's aim is to join their ranks.

"You could say this is a vital game for us. It's our chance to put ourselves amongst that group that is four or five points above us," he said.

The club has also recognised the importance of the game, offering tickets for under 10 euros in order to get as many fans behind the team as possible, under the slogan 'Together we can do it'.

"Our fans always support us but we need them more than ever in this game," added Bueno.

"We can always rely on their support, but they give us an extra boost and we will give everything so we don't pass this opportunity up and get the three points, which are vital for us."

Rayo will be boosted by the fact Malaga are without defender Weligton and forward Roque Santa Cruz due to injury, while Duda, who scored two of their goals in the 3-2 win over Sevilla last weekend, is suspended.

However, Rayo full-back Tito is suspended.

Jemez was one of the names put forward to succeed Manuel Pellegrini as Malaga coach last summer before the appointment of Schuster, and now his future at Rayo is inevitably being questioned with the team's poor results.

But Bueno insisted the squad "would back him until the day we die".