Albion face Rayo Vallecano in their last pre-season game before the start of the Premier League campaign.

Carlos Acosta Jukes has a look at what kind of test the Spanish outfit will pose the Seagulls in their dress rehearsal.

Q – Why is this game more competitive than might be expected?

A – Rayo finished in 11th position with 49 points last season under head coach Andoni  Iraola. However, despite ending in the middle part of the table, they were only four points away from Conference League, a competition that the Rayistas would have played had their end of the season been better. They only took three points from the last 15 possible.

Q – Who replaced Iraola?

A – The now Bournemouth manager trained Rayo for the past three years. He left a legacy as the Basque manager joined when the club was in the Second Division and took them to LaLiga and to a semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. However, the new era begins with Francisco Rodriguez as the heir of the bench with previous experience in LaLiga.

Q – How do Rayo Vallecano play?

A – In LaLiga, Rayo are known for the competitiveness. Francisco Rodriguez's team will press up high in the opposition side with the intention of gaining back the ball rapidly. They are not known for possession but for exploiting the wingers, looking to end the play with a cross into the box. Rayo are not the most technical team, far from it, but their work ethic and their strategy without the ball gives them many advantages.

Q – Form during pre-season?

A – Rayo have had a great prelude to the season by going unbeaten in their short pre-season. A win against Panathinaikos and two draws (Charleroi & Porto) put them in a good position with their morale boosted.

Q – Have they made many signings?

A – Up to five players come back from a loan season in which Bebé or Jonathan Montiel are included. Rayo have also made two important signings on free transfers in order to make their defence more solid. Aridane Hernández arrives from Osasuna. A well-known veteran defender in LaLiga, he has worked hard in the past few years. Their most recent signing is Alfonso Espino, who reinforces the left-back area after the departure of Fran Garcia to Real Madrid.

Q – Players to look out for?

 A – Alvaro Garcia is the man on fire during the pre-season with three goals in three games. Garcia plays as a left winger, with a remarkable ability to dribble through his opponents at a high speed. In the 2022-23 season, he played 35 games in the league and ended it with five goals and five assists. Isi Palazon made Rayo dream of the Conference League. The 28-year-old drove fans insane with his impressive season as he recorded nine goals and five assists, leading the team in both lists.