Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Real Madrid got back on the winning track in midweek as Los Blancos now welcome the still fighting Rayo Vallecano to the Bernabeu on Saturday.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Disney+ / USA – ESPN+
Real Madrid preview: Back on track
In his second stint in charge, Jose Mourinho began this season at Real Madrid with three successive victories before a dramatic 1-0 defeat to Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis at La Cartuja in Seville last weekend.
They did bounce back to earn a 2-1 victory over Italian champions Internazionale in their opening game in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League in midweek with Thibaut Courtois in typically immense form for the 15-time European champions.
Rayo Vallecano preview: Fighting Rayo
Rayo Vallecano lost the manager that led them to the UEFA Europa Conference League final last season, Inigo Perez, and the off-field running of the club remains ridiculous with Rayo forced to play home games at Butarque in Leganes.
Despite that, new Rayo boss Benat San Jose is getting his side to show fight this season and that was the case in an entertaining 3-2 defeat of a competitive Racing Santander side last week – despite going down to nine men with two red cards late on.
Real Madrid team news: Trio should be fresh
Having been suspended for their UEFA Champions League opener against Inter, Eduardo Camavinga, Bernardo Silva and Arda Guler should all come back in and be fresh for this one, albeit only spot seems available for Camavinga and Silva.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Dean Huijsen, Cucurella; Fede Valverde, Silva; Guler, Bellingham, Vinicius Junior; Mbappe
Unavailable: Lunin (Injured), Raul Asencio (Injured), Eder Militao (Injured), Mendy (Injured), Rodrygo (Injured)
Questionable:
Rayo Vallecano team news: Key suspensions
Rayo have plenty of key injury issues and they are now without both Fran Perez and Jorge de Frutos due to suspension after the pair were sent off against Racing Santander.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Dani Cardenas; Ratiu, Lejeune, Ciss, Adria Pedrosa; Pablo Diaz, Oscar Valentin, Unai Lopez; Tsitaishvili, Sergio Camello, Alvaro Garcia
Unavailable: Augusto Batalla (Injured), Luiz Felipe (Injured), Vertrouwd (Injured), Fran Perez (Suspended), Jorge de Frutos (Suspended)
Questionable: Kumbulla (Injured), Isi Palazon (Injured)
Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano prediction
Prior to that hard-fought come from behind defeat of Racing in Leganes last week, Rayo had been unfortunate to lose to Sevilla in their opener before a 1-1 draw with Alaves and then a 5-2 loss to Barcelona – in which they became and remain the only team to score against the rampant and free-scoring champions. That may well see them therefore take the game to their city rivals at the Bernabeu but Mourinho’s Madrid appear well set to squash most of the division with comfortable competence in the Spanish capital city.
Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano tip: Real Madrid to win & both teams to score
