Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

Preview

Joel Amorim Dec 15, 2015 @ 01:52 am

Next Sunday, 20th of December 2015, a somewhat fragilized Real Madrid will measure forces with their neighbours of Rayo Vallecano at Santiago Bernabéu for Round 16 of the Spanish Liga BBVA.

Real Madrid failed to take advantage from Barcelona’s home setback against Deportivo de La Coruña and conceded their third defeat of the season during their travel to El Madrigal last weekend. Los Blancos put up a mediocre first-half overall performance and allowed Villarreal to take the reins of the match since the kick-off. The Congolese forward Cédric Bakambu caused mayhem in Real Madrid’s defensive line in the first minutes of the match and he didn’t take long before assisting Roberto Soldado to the first and only goal of the night. Villarreal pulled Rafa Benitez’s men against the ropes during the first 45 minutes and they were, in fact, slightly unlucky to only have scored once before the break.

Real Madrid tried to get back in the match in the second-half and, although they improved considerably from the game they exhibited before the break, they were still a team without ideas in the final third of the pitch. A brilliant solo effort from James Rodriguez and a well placed shot by Karim Benzema from inside the box was the best Real Madrid managed to do during the entire match.

In opposition to their next weekend’s rivals, Rayo Vallecano, Real Madrid will not be taking part in the second-leg match of the Copa del Rey 1/16 finals after being ruled out of the competition for having fielded a suspended player against Cádiz CF early this month. For next Sunday’s Madrid derby, Rafa Benitez will not be able to rely on the contribution of Raphael Varane and Daniel Carvajal, who remain sidelined due to injury.

As for Rayo Vallecano, things haven’t been easy for them at La Liga so far and they are currently on a very poor run as they failed to win any of their last four matches. After also being defeated at El Madrigal two weeks ago, Rayo were surprised at home by Málaga CF last time out. Paco Jemez’s men opened the score early in the match, thanks to a goal by the usual suspect, Javi Guerra, but allowed the visitors to pull off a strong comeback after the break and to score twice in the last 30 minutes of the match.

Before their short travel to Santiago Bernabéu next Sunday, Rayo will still play another Madrid derby against Getafe at Coliseum Alfonso Pérez for the second-leg of the Copa del Rey 1/16 finals.

Real Madrid

Stats: W-4 L-1 D-0

Recent Form - LWWWW

Rayo Vallecano

Stats: W-1 L-3 D-1

Recent Form - LLWLD

Possible Line-ups

Real Madrid (4-3-3) – Navas - Danilo - Pepe - Sergio Ramos - Marcelo - Casemiro - Modric - James Rodriguez - Ronaldo - Bale - Benzema

Rayo Vallecano (4-2-3-1) - Yoel - Tito - Martínez - Llorente - Amaya - Sanchez - Trashorras - Bangoura - Bebé - Hernández - Guerra

Injury List / Suspended Players

Real Madrid - Varane (inj) - Carvajal (inj)

Rayo Vallecano - David Cobeño (inj) - Toño (inj) - Ebert (inj)

Head-to-head matches:

League Positions