Rayo Vallecano – AEK Athens: a slice of history on the line in the Conference League 
Vallecas is the stage for a first-leg quarter-final that’s never been seen before. Rayo Vallecano and AEK Athens go head to head. The winner of this tie will face Mainz or Strasbourg. Both clubs are fighting for a place in a first-ever continental semi-final. The stakes are huge, and this one shouldn’t be short on fire or fear.
Rayo Vallecano’s big European return under Inigo Perez 
Coach Inigo Perez has dragged his side back into the light. Rayo’s last run to this stage came way back in 2001. They were smashed by Alaves then. They had to scrap to get past Samsunspor in the last 16. And lately, they’ve started to breathe again in La Liga. That handy 1-0 win over Elche pushed the relegation talk back a bit. Rayo will be aiming to win back-to-back home games for the first time since autumn.
The unbeaten away machine 
Marko Nikolic has a Greek side that looks in total control. They sit proudly at the top of their domestic league. Their 1-0 derby win over Olympiakos only tightened their grip. Aboubakary Koita struck in the fifth minute and that was that. Their away record in Europe deserves real respect. The Greeks are unbeaten in 14 straight trips. That relentless pace will put a massive physical strain on Rayo Vallecano.
Probable line-ups
Rayo Vallecano : Batalla ; Ratiu, Lejeune, Felipe, Chavarria ; Palazon, Ciss, Lopez ; De Frutos, Garcia, Alemao
AEK Athens : Strakosha ; Rota, Moukoudi, Relvas, Pilios ; Pineda, Marin ; Koita, Pereyra ; Varga, Jovic
Football Prediction Rayo Vallecano vs AEK Athens
Over 2.5 goals in the match
The home crowd will drag Rayo forward from the first whistle. The heat inside Vallecas will push the Spaniards to play on the front foot and ask questions early.
The Greek side has serious punch in transition. And with Rayo bound to leave gaps, those wide men from Athens should get plenty of joy.
Both teams know what’s at stake and neither will want to sit on their hands. That usually means chaos, and this one looks built for goals.
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