Rayo Vallecano’s miserable run of form continued with a 3-0 La Liga defeat away at Valencia last weekend, keeping the side from in the relegation zone ahead of Game Week 14.
Michel’s side are now without a win since September 14th, away at Huesca, which has been their only victory of the La Liga season.
Inconsistency has dogged the side from the start of the season, with the results that do not match the performance becoming the hallmark of their campaign.
That win against Huesca, the only side lower than Rayo in the current standings, was hoped to be a springboard for more to come, however that has not materialised.
Rayo have drawn too many games, with four of their last nine La Liga games ending in a draw.
Each of these games share a similar pattern of Rayo taking the lead, and then conceding a late goal to deny them a much needed win, as was the case against Real Sociedad, Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal, and Leganes in the Copa del Rey.
That has been a source of huge frustration for Michel, his players and even more so, the club’s supporters.
They have shown flashes of their capability to cut it in the top flight, however all too often the experience and nous needed to see games out, has been lacking.
The one chink of consistency in their situation has been their relatively solid home form in recent weeks, with Barcelona the only side to win at the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas in their last three home games – with two late goals again pulling a win away from the hosts.
Before the winter break, Rayo have four league matches, with two at home.
A home game against Eibar this weekend, and a final game before Christmas against Levante, should offer the ideal platform to pick up valuable points.
Eibar, despite comfortably beating Real Madrid last weekend, have won just once away from home this season and Levante are without a victory in their last three away fixtures.
Michel will be calling on his strike force of Real Madrid loanee Raul de Tomas and former Manchester City youth prospect Jose Pozo to rediscover their goal scoring touch ahead of a crucial few weeks in Rayo’s battle against relegation back to the Segunda Division.
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