South Madrid Derby: Cards on the Menu for Getafe vs Rayo Vallecano
Following successful predictions of 16/1 and 4/1 winners in recent days, our football betting column is serving up 8/5 and 17/2 selections for a fiery La Liga derby clash on Saturday.
Getafe vs Rayo Vallecano, a south Madrid derby, is known for its fiery nature and abundance of bookings. The last 10 meetings have seen an average of 7.5 cards per game, highlighting its reputation as a "card magnet".
While the Spanish FA has appointed Javier Alberola Rojas, known for his leniency in officiating, the rivalry between these two teams is likely to produce plenty of tackles and heated exchanges. This could result in the referee being forced to issue frequent cautions, even with a more relaxed approach.
Our approach involves two bets:
Bet 1: Getafe over 2.5 cards & Rayo over 1.5 cards
This Bet Builder has consistently delivered in previous derbies and is available at odds of around 8/5.
Getafe has consistently been one of the most "physical" teams in La Liga, receiving 3+ cards in nine of their last 14 matches. Meanwhile, Rayo has received 2+ cards in 24 of their last 29 games, reinforcing the likelihood of multiple cautions.
Adding an "under 2.5 goals" selection to the Bet Builder could potentially increase the odds, as this outcome has been prevalent in the last five encounters between the two sides.
Bet 2: Carles Alena & Oscar Valentin both to be shown a card
Our big-priced selection involves targeting specific players: Carles Alena of Getafe and Oscar Valentin of Rayo.
Alena, who is likely to start after replacing the injured Mauro Arambarri, has a history of picking up cards in this fixture, receiving a yellow in three of his four derby appearances. He was also cautioned in five of his 12 starts last season.
Rayo captain Valentin, while receiving only seven bookings last season, boasts a strong track record in this clash, having been carded in three of his five starts.
With the added incentive of playing under the lights of the Coliseum, where a vibrant atmosphere is expected, Valentin is likely to be highly motivated and potentially more susceptible to a booking.
The odds for both players to be cautioned are around 17/2.
We recommend splitting stakes evenly between these two bets, allocating half a point to each.
Check out our Saturday football cheat sheet for more betting tips!
Recommended bets:
Back Getafe over 2.5 cards & Rayo over 1.5 cards @ around 8/5
Back Carles Alena & Oscar Valentin both to be shown a card @ around 17/2
Column P/L 2024/25
Staked: 40pts Returned: 48.49pts P/L: +8.49pts
2023/24 P/L: +16.78pts 2022/23 P/L: +68.69pts
This article provides information and opinion only. Please gamble responsibly.
