Rayo seeks to settle in Europe before the Athletic headdress

Valladolid needs a victory against Espanyol to move away from the burning zone

MADRID, 4 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Rayo Vallecano hopes to defend the last of the European positions this Sunday against the contender Athletic Club (6:30 p.m.) in a twenty-fourth day of LaLiga Santander in tribute to José Ángel Iribar, while Real Valladolid seeks to move away from the relegation zone against RCD Espanyol (2:00 p.m.), which has taken to the air in recent weeks.

In Vallecas, both Stole Dimitrievski and Julen Agirrezabala - who is expected to once again occupy the position of the Unai Simón headdress - will wear black in homage to 'Txopo', the emblematic goalkeeper of the Bilbao team who turned 80 this week.

Thus, Ernesto Valverde's men will seek to pay tribute to their idol and, above all, recover from the Copa del Rey blow, where Osasuna managed to take the lead thanks to a goal from Abde in the first leg of the semifinals (1-0). In LaLiga, in addition, they link two consecutive defeats against Atlético (1-0) and Girona (2-3).

With 32 points, the Basque team is only two away from Madrid, who started the day in sixth place despite not having won in their last three matches. Two draws against Getafe (1-1) and Sevilla (1-1) and a loss against Cádiz (1-0) have raised doubts among Andoni Iraola's men.

Athletic, in addition to the already mentioned doubt of Unai Simón, arrive at the appointment with the loss due to suspension of Yeray Álvarez and due to injury to Ander Herrera and Jon Morcillo, while the Rayista team recovers Santi Comesaña and will only have the absence of Alejandro Catena, expelled before the people of Cádiz.

For their part, at the José Zorrilla, Real Valladolid, which marks the zone of permanence, receives an Espanyol that aspires to continue its good run of results. The Pucelano team manages 24 units, only one more than the relegation places, after harvesting only one point in the last three dates and chaining two consecutive defeats.

Diego Martínez's men, meanwhile, have escaped the danger zone after beating Elche (0-1) and Mallorca (2-1) and have already accumulated 27 points, four from relegation and seven from the continental positions.

Kike Pérez and Selim Amallah, due to suspension, and Jordi Masip, Kenedy and Anuar, due to injury, will not be available for Pacheta, who in return gets Darwin Machís back. Adrià Pedrosa, Keidi Bare, Dani Gómez and Gori Gracia will miss the clash for the Catalans.

Valladolid - Spanish. Pizarro Gómez (C. Madrid) 14.00.

FC Barcelona - Valencia. Alberola Rojas (C. Cast-manchego) 16.15.

Rayo Vallecano - Athletic Club. Melero Lopez (C.Andaluz)

Betis - Real Madrid. Soto Grado (C. Riojano) 21.00.