Rayo Vallecano vs Espanyol Prediction, 4/23/2026 Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

by Josh Schonwald - 4/22/2026

Game: Rayo Vallecano vs Espanyol

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026

Location: Estadio del Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain

TV: ESPN Deportes

The Budgerigars (10-8-13) are en route to Estadio del Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain on Thursday where they will try to beat Rayo Vallecano (8-11-12). Rayo Vallecano are priced at +106 while the Budgerigars are at -128. The total is 3. The expected starting goaltenders are Dani Cardenas for Rayo Vallecano and Marko Dmitrovic for Espanyol.

soccer picks Jorge de Frutos Rayo Vallecano predictions best bet odds

Rayo Vallecano has accumulated 83 saves and are the owners of a save% of 67.2% for the season. Their goal differential is -9 because of 29 goals put in the net and 38 goals allowed. On the campaign, this club is sitting with an average of 1.13 pts per fixture (35 pts) and rank 18th in Big 5 soccer with 20 assists. The Red Sashes rank 7th for xG having 21.4, and the squad's xGA are coming in at 20.1. Rayo Vallecano has tallied 83 yellow cards so far this season and 8 red cards. The Red Sashes have conceded 38 goals while surrendering 1.23 goals per 90 min, and the opposition have accounted for 116 shots on target on them. They have 9 clean sheets, giving them a rate of 29.0% this season.

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The Budgerigars average 1.2 pts/match while totaling 24 assists and 4 red cards. RCD Espanyol has earned a clean sheet percentage of 25.8% this year as well as 73 yellow card warnings. Espanyol has a ranking of 15th when it comes to goals surrendered with 48, and the squad's goal difference is at -11. So far this season, RCD Espanyol has a save percentage of 68.0% (150 SoTA), and they also have a rank of 11th among European teams with 38 pts. The club's goals against per 90 minutes is at 1.55 with 107 saves, and they are sitting with 8 clean sheets. Espanyol has totaled 37 goals and their expected goals on the year is at 22.9.

The guy defending the goal for Rayo Vallecano is Dani Cardenas. Cardenas has defended the goal for a total of 3,600 mins and has earned 117 saves so far in his career. The goalkeeper hailing from Spain has had 184 shots tried at him in 40 career starts. His GA/90 is 1.68 (67 total goals allowed) and he is the owner of a save % of 63.6%. Cardenas (10-10-20 mark in his career) has accumulated 8 shutouts, which gives him a 20.0%% shutout percentage.

Marko Dmitrovic will reside in front of the goal for Espanyol. During his pro soccer career, Dmitrovic has allowed 319 goals while totaling 594 saves in 225 starting assignments. He has surrendered 1.41 goals per 90 and he has a mark of 67-61-97. He has earned a save % of 65.8% and his clean sheet rate is 27.9%%. Dmitrovic has recorded 63 clean sheets and has defended 903 shots tried against him in 20,319 career minutes.

Jorge de Frutos is one player who should impact this matchup for Rayo Vallecano. He has 28 assists while tallying 94 pts so far in his pro soccer career. The midfielder hailing from Spain has 33 goals scored in 15,348 professional minutes played. Frutos has been in the starting lineup in 171 matches during his career and he tallies 0.19 goals per 90 minutes.

Espanyol has a playmaker in Roberto Fernandez, who defenders will be preparing for in this game. He has accumulated 37 pts thus far in his career and has assisted a teammate on a goal 9 times. The forward hailing from Spain has totaled 13,276 professional minutes and has earned 14 goals. He currently averages 0.09 goals per 90 mins and has been in the starting lineup in 148 outings thus far in his career.

Who will win tonight's soccer game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Rayo Vallecano (-128)

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Rayo Vallecano vs Espanyol Prediction, 4/23/2026 Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

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