Home and Away: Hosts are the Rayo deal here

7Jan 2013

Jonno Turner kicks off another week of Home and Away selections by taking trips to Spain and France.

We're off to Spain for our first pick of the week - and focusing on the Primera Division, as two mid-table sides in Rayo Vallecano and Getafe battle it out at the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas this evening.

The hosts are on a decent run going into this one, and have lost just one of their last five on their own patch, which will give them a boost ahead of this tie.

Boss Paco Jemez will be delighted with that form - but desperate for his side to continue that momentum in what promises to be a tough game in front of their own fans.

Three clean sheets from their last four in Vallecas shows that the home rearguard is likely to play a large part in the outcome of this encounter, and if they can reach the same performance levels as in their last home outing - a 3-0 dismissal of Levante just before Christmas - I think that the Franjirrojos will be well away here.

Getafe, on the other hand, prepare for this clash having won just once in half a dozen games, and four goals shipped at Valencia in their last outing will have knocked confidence in the Azulones camp.

Four without a win from five away from the Coliseum Alfonso Perez will have boss Luis Garcia Plaza feeling the strain, and he will be keen for the visitors to arrest that slump here.

Although just one place separates these sides in the league table, recent form suggests that they are both heading in opposite directions - and I fancy the momentum and vigour of our hosts to come good here.

Bet 1: Rayo Vallecano (HOME) @ 2.26

Over to France for our next selection, and Valenciennes travel to Istres in the Coupe de la France, looking to make their top flight status pay in what is bound to be a tough encounter.

The visitors currently sit sixth in Ligue 1 - and will be buoyed by a 2-1 victory over Evian in their last outing - as they aim to secure their place in the next round of this famous competition.

Boss Daniel Sanchez will be happy with his sides overall performance this season, but will be keen for them to show more on the road - and this trip to their lower league opponents is the perfect opportunity to kick start that away form.

Ten unbeaten from 14 in all competitions is a good basis for the visitors to work from, and they will be desperate to avoid a cup upset which could potentially derail their campaign here.

Home side Istres go into this one having won just two of their last half a dozen - not exactly the kind of preparation they would want in anticipation of hosting a big cup game - and their recent underwhelming league form sees them sitting in sixth place in Ligue 2.

Jose Pasqualetti's side have kept just one clean sheet in five league outings, and that suggests that they are likely to present their opponents with a chance or two this evening.

The Ouest Provence side do have a decent record on their own patch - but I expect that the quality of the visitors will be too much for them, and I'm backing Valenciennes to book their place in the next stage of this competition, at good odds.

Bet 2: Valenciennes (AWAY) @ 2.46