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Vallecano has had a positive beginning to the season, considering their usual standards, and currently occupies the eighth position as we approach this weekend. However, they find themselves in the role of significant underdogs against the leading team in La Liga for this upcoming match.
Real Madrid had already overtaken Barcelona in the standings before their clash last week. However, Jude Bellingham's outstanding performance tilted the scales in favor of Real Madrid in the title race. They currently hold a four-point advantage over Barcelona, but maintaining that lead is crucial, and it hinges on their performance against Vallecano.
Despite their strong position, Madrid continues to grapple with injuries to several key players. Aurelien Tchouameni is the latest addition to the list of absentees, having sustained a foot injury in the match against Barcelona. He joins the likes of Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao, and Dani Ceballos on the sidelines. While left-back Ferland Mendy is unlikely to make a timely return, there is positive news as Arda Guler has returned to training.
Rayo Vallecano will have Oscar Valentin back from suspension after he missed the previous match against Real Sociedad, which ended in a 2-2 draw, with Bebe scoring a late equalizer.
As for their fitness situation, Francisco Rodriguez does not currently have any significant concerns, which means he is likely to stick with the players who have been performing well. Bebe, owing to his heroics in the previous weekend, might well find himself in the starting lineup.
Rayo Vallecano is gearing up to travel to face the current top-ranked team in the league, Real Madrid. Both teams have maintained unbeaten streaks in recent league matches and aim to continue this trend when they clash.
Real Madrid has been highly successful this season, winning nine out of their 11 league games and occupying the first position in the points table with 28 points. Although Girona shares the same points tally, they fall behind due to goal difference, and their sole defeat this season came against Real Madrid. Real Madrid enters this match after a significant victory in El Clasico, where Jude Bellingham's two goals secured a win against a formidable Barcelona team. They seek to carry this momentum into their encounter with Rayo Vallecano.
On the other hand, Rayo Vallecano is currently in the eighth position on the points table. They have not suffered a loss in their last seven league games, winning four, drawing five, and losing twice, accumulating a total of 17 points. While their season may not have started ideally, they have demonstrated resilience and the ability to avoid easy defeats.
Francisco's team comes into this fixture following a comfortable 6-0 win over Atletico Lugones in the Copa del Rey. However, they face a formidable opponent in Real Madrid, a team known for their ability to secure victories. Consequently, securing a positive result in this encounter won't be a simple task. The Hard Tackle provides a detailed analysis of both teams and attempts to anticipate the strategies they may employ.
The home team is set to adopt a 4-4-2 formation, featuring a diamond shape in the central midfield. Kepa Arrizabalaga will maintain his position as the goalkeeper. Fran Garcia and Dani Carvajal will serve as the full-backs, while the central defense will be anchored by David Alaba partnering with Antonio Rudiger.
In the absence of Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga will take on the role of the defensive midfielder at the heart of the midfield. Federico Valverde will be positioned on the right side of the central midfield, and Luka Modric may make a return to the starting lineup, likely on the left.
Jude Bellingham will continue as the attacking midfielder, playing just behind the two strikers. The former Borussia Dortmund standout and Kopa Trophy winner will operate in support of the Brazilian duo, Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior.
Francisco Rodriguez's team is coming into the match with a fully-fit squad. There are no new injury concerns, and they are expected to field the same starting lineup that featured against Real Sociedad in the previous weekend.
Francisco's team will utilize a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Stole Dimitrievski as the goalkeeper. Alfonso Espino and Ivan Balliu will take on the full-back roles, supported by Florian Lejeune and Abdul Mumin at the heart of the defense.
Isi Palazon and Alvaro Garcia will operate as wide midfielders in the center of the pitch, providing support to the full-backs and contributing to the team's width in attack. Meanwhile, Unai Lopez and Pathe Ciss will play in a more central role, focusing on intercepting passes and launching counter-attacks, while also preventing Real Madrid from dominating possession deep in their half. Oscar Trejo will feature as the attacking midfielder behind the lone striker, Raul de Tomas.
Modric, as a substitute in the Clasico against Barcelona, had a significant impact on the game, turning it in favor of Real Madrid despite being 38 years old. When he entered the field, Real Madrid, the reigning champions, were already dominating the match. Modric's influence changed the game's tempo and contributed to Los Blancos' victory.
Despite his age, Modric remains a crucial player for the team in white. He has played just over 500 minutes in 12 appearances. The veteran Croatian is expected to start in the upcoming match against Rayo Vallecano, where he could play a decisive role in the outcome.
In the previous El Clasico, Real Madrid struggled in the first half and fell behind 1-0 due to Ilkay Gundogan's early goal. However, Jude Bellingham's two goals in the second half secured a crucial win for Los Blancos.
Under Carlo Ancelotti's management, Real Madrid has been performing well in the league, winning nine, drawing one, and losing one of their 11 matches, accumulating 28 points to top the table. They share the same point total with Girona, while Atletico Madrid, in third place, is just three points behind with a game in hand. Real Madrid aims to secure back-to-back wins against Rayo and Valencia at the Bernabeu before the season takes a break in November for international matches.
Real Madrid will also compete in the Champions League next week against Braga, where they have been impressive this season, winning all three of their matches to lead Group C.
In the previous season, Real Madrid won 2-1 against Rayo in a similar fixture, but they suffered a 3-2 defeat in the reverse fixture against Rayo in November.
