In what seems to be an intriguing matchup, Spanish champions Real Madrid will try to go back to winning ways in La Liga on Sunday afternoon when they host European-chasing Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabeu.
Rayo is presently in seventh position, two points behind sixth-place Real Betis, while Los Blancos lost 2-1 at Real Betis last weekend, dropping them to third place in the La Liga standings, three points behind champions Barcelona.
With former Los Blancos forward Isco leading Real Betis to all three points, Real Madrid suffered their fourth league loss of the season in Seville last weekend. The capital giants, now in third place in the standings, suffered a major blow.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team currently sit two points behind second-placed Atletico Madrid and three points adrift of league leaders Barcelona. While it’s not yet time to hit the panic button, it’s crucial for Los Blancos to return to winning form this weekend to stay in the title race.
Real Madrid were in action during the Champions League on Tuesday night, securing a 2-1 victory over Atletico in the first leg of their last-16 tie. The second leg is set to take place at the Wanda Metropolitano next week, adding to the team’s busy schedule.
In addition to their European commitments, the capital giants are also competing in the Copa del Rey. They hold a 1-0 advantage over Real Sociedad heading into the second leg of their semi-final clash in early April, making the coming weeks pivotal for the club’s ambitions across multiple competitions.
Real Madrid’s next two league fixtures present significant challenges. They host Rayo Vallecano this weekend before traveling to face Villarreal, who are chasing a top-four finish. Historically, Los Blancos have struggled against this weekend’s opponents, Rayo. Each of the last three league meetings between the two sides has ended in a draw, including a thrilling 3-3 stalemate earlier this season.
Rayo also managed to hold Real Madrid to a goalless draw at the Bernabeu last season. Furthermore, they boast an away league victory over Los Blancos, having triumphed 2-1 back in January 1996. These results highlight the potential difficulty Real Madrid could face as they aim to secure three crucial points this weekend.
Real Madrid's most dominant victory over Rayo Vallecano came in December 2015, when they astonishingly secured a 10-2 triumph. However, recent encounters indicate that this match will likely be a much tougher challenge for the home side.
Los Franjirrojos narrowly avoided relegation last season, finishing 17th in La Liga, and have never placed higher than eighth in the top flight. This campaign presents an opportunity to make history, as Íñigo Pérez's squad currently sits in seventh place, just two points behind sixth-placed Real Betis in the race for European qualification.
Rayo, however, head into this clash on a disappointing run, having collected just one point from their last three matches. They suffered defeats against Barcelona and Villarreal before managing a 1-1 draw with Sevilla in their most recent outing.
Despite their struggles, Pérez’s side has performed well away from home, earning 17 points from 13 matches. However, they face a formidable challenge against Real Madrid, who boast the second-best home record in La Liga, securing 31 points from their 12 league games at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Jude Bellingham's return from suspension will provide Real Madrid a significant boost this weekend, as the England international is set to be included in the starting lineup on Sunday.
In the meanwhile, head coach Perez will be missing a number of key players for the match at Bernabeu since Jorge de Frutos is still suspended and cannot be selected.
