Valencia CF host Rayo Vallecano tonight

Valencia CF host Rayo Vallecano on Thursday in a LaLiga Matchday 36 game at Mestalla, with kickoff set for 19:00 local time, according to Valencia’s club schedule and LaLiga’s official match page. The teams begin the night separated by one point in the standings, with Rayo in 11th place on 43 points and Valencia in 13th on 42 after 35 matches. LaLiga’s official match page lists Valencia with 11 wins, nine draws and 15 defeats, while Rayo have 10 wins, 13 draws and 12 defeats. The same page names Alejandro Quintero González as referee for the fixture at Camp de Mestalla. Carlos Corberán framed the game as a key home test in comments published by Valencia on May 13. “Tomorrow, we will give everything we have,” the Valencia coach said, adding that the team wanted to show supporters “how much these three points mean to us.” (valenciacf.com) ### How close are Valencia and Rayo in the table? (laliga.com) The standings on LaLiga’s match page show Rayo one point ahead of Valencia before the round begins, 43 to 42, with both sides having played 35 matches. Valencia have scored 38 goals and conceded 50, while Rayo have scored 36 and conceded 42. (valenciacf.com) Rayo also hold the higher position despite having fewer wins than Valencia because of their 13 draws, compared with Valencia’s nine. That leaves Thursday’s game as a direct meeting between two clubs in the lower half of the table entering the final three matchdays. ### What have Valencia said about the importance of Mestalla? (laliga.com) Pepelu said on May 12 that “the fans and the team have to be together” and that “Mestalla has to be a fortress,” according to Valencia’s official website. The midfielder linked the home atmosphere directly to the team’s push in the closing stretch of the season. Corberán made a similar appeal a day later. (laliga.com) In Valencia’s pre-match coverage, he said the players would push for all three points and described Rayo as “the only Spanish team in a European final,” calling that “a testament to a job very well done by them.” ### What do the numbers say about the matchup? (valenciacf.com) LaLiga’s comparison page shows Valencia averaging 7.8 shots per match and Rayo 10.6. Rayo also lead in shots on target, 167 to Valencia’s 108, while both teams are listed with 82% passing accuracy. The same page lists Hugo Duro as Valencia’s top scorer with nine league goals and Jorge de Frutos as Rayo’s leading scorer with 10. (valenciacf.com) Luis Rioja leads Valencia in assists with six, while Álvaro García has five for Rayo. ### Which team news has been confirmed before kickoff? Valencia said Lucas Beltrán remains unavailable because he has not overcome his discomfort, while Thierry Correia has returned to the squad after training in recent days. (rayovallecano.es) Corberán confirmed both updates in his pre-match remarks published on May 13. (laliga.com) Rayo’s official match page says lineups will be available one hour before kickoff. The club’s pre-match page also carried comments from coach Íñigo Pérez under the headline, “Hay que cumplir el primer objetivo.” ### What comes next after Thursday night? Valencia’s fixture list shows the club away to Real Sociedad on Sunday, May 17, again at 19:00 local time in San Sebastián. (valenciacf.com) Thursday’s match at Mestalla is therefore the last home game listed before that trip. (valenciacf.com) (rayovallecano.es)