Sofia Quijada
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Rayo Vallecano host RCD Espanyol de Barcelona in Spanish La Liga on Tuesday 15 September 2026, and the predicted lineups for both sides are shaped almost as much by who is missing as by who is in form. A run of injuries at both clubs narrows the selection pool, so the question here is less about tactics and more about which deputies get the nod. What follows is our projection of each starting XI, built from recent selection patterns rather than any official team sheet.
Rayo Vallecano Predicted XI
Beñat San José’s side are projected to line up in a 4-2-3-1, which matches his preferred shape. The group picked here has been largely settled, with 8 of the projected XI starting their last match. Pathé Ciss and Florian Lejeune stand out in particular, with both defenders having started all five of the matches used for this projection, underlining how central they’ve become to the back line. Elsewhere in midfield and attack, rotation has been slightly more common, though the spine of the side is clear.
Rayo Vallecano predicted XI: Dani Cárdenas; Pathé Ciss, Florian Lejeune, Andrei Rațiu, Adrià Pedrosa; Unai López, Álvaro García, Jorge De Frutos, Pedro Díaz, Óscar Valentín; Sergio Camello
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 5 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Dani Cárdenas | 2/5 | 2/3 |
| D | 6 | Pathé Ciss | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| D | 24 | Florian Lejeune | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| D | 2 | Andrei Rațiu | 4/5 | 2/3 |
| D | 17 | Adrià Pedrosa | 2/5 | 2/3 |
| M | 8 | Unai López | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| M | 18 | Álvaro García | 4/5 | 3/3 |
| M | 19 | Jorge De Frutos | 4/5 | 2/3 |
| M | 4 | Pedro Díaz | 2/5 | 2/3 |
| M | 23 | Óscar Valentín | 3/5 | 2/3 |
| F | 10 | Sergio Camello | 4/5 | 3/3 |
Predicted RCD Espanyol de Barcelona Line-up
Manolo González is also expected to set his team up in a 4-2-3-1, again his own preferred formation. This is an even more settled group than their hosts’, with 9 of the projected XI having started the last match, and the expected XI reads almost like an established first-choice unit. Marko Dmitrović and Roger Hinojo are the clearest examples of that consistency, each having started all five recent matches used to build this projection. Several other names in this line-up carry an identical record, which points to a side with very little rotation right now.
RCD Espanyol de Barcelona predicted XI: Marko Dmitrović; Roger Hinojo, Omar El Hilali, Unai Núñez, Clemens Riedel; Eduardo Expósito Jaén, Tyrhys Dolan, Francisco Javier Hernandez Coarasa, Urko Gonzalez, Álex Calatrava Torrado; Roberto Fernández Jaén
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 5 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 13 | Marko Dmitrović | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| D | 21 | Roger Hinojo | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| D | 23 | Omar El Hilali | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| D | 14 | Unai Núñez | 4/5 | 2/3 |
| D | 5 | Clemens Riedel | 3/5 | 1/3 |
| M | 8 | Eduardo Expósito Jaén | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| M | 24 | Tyrhys Dolan | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| M | 28 | Francisco Javier Hernandez Coarasa | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| M | 4 | Urko Gonzalez | 4/5 | 2/3 |
| M | 22 | Álex Calatrava Torrado | 4/5 | 2/3 |
| F | 9 | Roberto Fernández Jaén | 5/5 | 3/3 |
Team News and Confirmed Absentees
Luiz Felipe, Augusto Batalla, Isi Palazón, Jozhua Vertrouwd and Randy Nteka are out injured, a list that stretches across defence, goalkeeping cover and the forward line and leaves Rayo Vallecano’s squad options at the back particularly thin. Of the available bench options, Ivan Balliu looks best placed to step into a defensive role given his existing starts this season, while Emil Audero would be the fallback should anything happen to the first-choice goalkeeper.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luiz Felipe | D | injured | Hamstring Injury |
| Augusto Batalla | G | injured | Calf Injury |
| Isi Palazón | F | injured | Muscle bruise |
| Jozhua Vertrouwd | D | injured | Muscle bruise |
| Randy Nteka | M | injured | Muscle bruise |
Andoni Gorosabel, Kike García and Javi Puado are out injured, with the two forwards missing leaving Espanyol short of depth in attack. Leandro Cabrera, with two starts already logged, is the bench option best placed to come in and cover the gap left in defence.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andoni Gorosabel | D | injured | Wound |
| Kike García | F | injured | Hamstring Injury |
| Javi Puado | F | injured | Jumpers knee |
Where These Predictions Come From
Each expected XI here is built from the last five line-ups fielded by that club, with more recent matches weighted more heavily than older ones so current form and fitness carry more influence than results from a month ago. Anyone confirmed injured or suspended has been removed from contention before the projection is built. This remains a predicted lineup rather than a confirmed one, and it can and will change once the official team news is released closer to kick-off.
FAQ
Who is Rayo Vallecano’s predicted goalkeeper against RCD Espanyol de Barcelona?
Dani Cárdenas is projected to start in goal for Rayo Vallecano, based on his recent selection pattern.
What formation are Rayo Vallecano and RCD Espanyol de Barcelona expected to play?
Both sides are projected to use a 4-2-3-1, which matches the preferred formation of each head coach.
Who is unavailable for Rayo Vallecano vs RCD Espanyol de Barcelona?
Rayo Vallecano are without Luiz Felipe, Augusto Batalla, Isi Palazón, Jozhua Vertrouwd and Randy Nteka through injury, while RCD Espanyol de Barcelona are missing Andoni Gorosabel, Kike García and Javi Puado for the same reason.
When does Rayo Vallecano vs RCD Espanyol de Barcelona kick off?
The Spanish La Liga fixture kicks off on Tuesday 15 September 2026.