Real Madrid are back in action after their Clasico success last weekend with a less daunting task in a home game against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
Vallecano have enjoyed a good start to the season by their usual standards and sit eighth coming into this weekend. However, they remain major underdogs coming into this one against the top side in La Liga.
Real Madrid were already ahead of Barcelona before last week’s clash, but Jude Bellingham’s match-winning display has put them firmly in the driving seat in the title race. They are four points ahead of Barcelona but it will mean little if they cannot build on that against Vallecano.
Here’s all you need to know about this La Liga clash.
Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Current Form (all competitions)
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Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
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United Kingdom |
Viaplay Sports 1, LaLigaTV |
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United States |
ESPN+, ESPN Deportes |
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Canada |
TSN2, TSN+ |
Madrid still have a number of important players suffering from injuries, with Aurelien Tchouameni joining the list of absentees after he suffered a foot problem against Barcelona.
The French midfielder joins the likes of Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao and Dani Ceballos on the sidelines. Left-back Ferland Mendy is not expected to return in time, but Arda Guler has made a return to training.
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Rayo Vallecano (4-3-1-2): Arrizabalaga; Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Camavinga; Valverde, Kroos, Modric; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius.
Rayo Vallecano will welcome Oscar Valentin back from suspension after he sat out the draw against Real Sociedad in which Bebe scored a stoppage-time equaliser to make it 2-2.
There are no fitness concerns for Francisco Rodriguez to contend with at the moment which means he should stay pretty loyal to the players who have been performing well so far. Bebe could well start given his heroics last weekend.
Rayo Vallecano predicted lineup vs Real Madrid (4-4-2): Dimitrievski; Balliu, Mumin, Lejeune, Espino; Palazon, Ciss, Lopez, Garcia; Raul de Tomas, Bebe.
Rayo Vallecano have made a good start to the season and look like they have the quality to avoid being dragged into a relegation fight, but that does not mean they’re likely to get anything away at Madrid.
With Jude Bellingham scoring goals for fun and Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo buoyed by new contracts, this confident Real Madrid side should tot up the goals on Sunday evening.
Prediction: Real Madrid 3-0 Rayo Vallecano
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