Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano
We’re moving towards the business end of La Liga and, with 12 rounds to go, the top three of Barcelona and the two Madrid giants have hazards ahead of them at every turn.
Only three points separate the three rivals and there will be twists and turns ahead, each desperately hoping to avoid a slip-up; and third placed Real Madrid face a potential banana skin when they welcome seventh placed Rayo Vallecano to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Carlo Ancelotti’s team went down to a 2-1 defeat away to Real Betis last week and that left them off the pace and leaders Barcelona are at home to Osasuna on Saturday.
Since taking the reigns as first team head coach, Rayo boss Inigo Perez has done a superb job, transforming a team which finished 17th last term to one which is challenging seriously for European football, just two points behind sixth placed Betis; and Vallecano drew 1-1 at home to Sevilla last week.
Los Blancos were in Champions League action against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, winning the first leg 2-1 to leave the tie delicately in the balance and they are at SBOTOP odds of 1.26 to beat Rayo Vallecano on Sunday…but I don’t think it will be that easy.
Talking Points
Ancelotti’s man management skills are being tested to the full
He is one of the finest and most successful manager in European football history and Carlo Ancelotti has put Real Madrid in a strong position in both Spain and the Champions League; but though Rodrygo and Brahim Diaz scored in the 2-1 win over Los Rojiblancos on Tuesday there is still much work to do there.
In the Primera Division they start the weekend three points behind Barcelona and with a far inferior goal difference and, by the time they face Vallecano on Sunday, Los Blancos could be six points adrift. Atletico Madrid are a point ahead of Ancelotti’s team and they will complete their match away to Getafe before Real kick-off; so the pressure could increase before they even kick a ball. The La Liga 2025 betting odds have started to drift towards Catalonia and if Los Blancos were to slip against Rayo they could well make a sharp move.
Ancelotti has an array of stars at his disposal but they are not without issues. Summer signing Kylian Mbappe has recently been sidelined by a tooth problem and he was not at his best on Tuesday, and neither was midfield ace Federico Valverde, who seemed to be labouring amidst fears he’s carrying a knock. Los Blancos need both to be fit and firing and they also need Brazilian star Vinicius Junior to be at his best with rumours around his future, at the end of the season, beginning to gather pace. Vinicius has constantly said he wants to stay at Madrid but his representatives may well listen to overtures from the Saudi Pro League. And then there are strikers Endrick and Arda Guler who have been struggling for game time and reports in the European football press suggest they too may be eying their future.
If anyone can keep these stars motivated…Ancelotti can.
Rayo are punching above their weight
The visitors have never finished above eighth in the Primera Division in their history and, while their recent La Liga 2025 results have taking a turn for the worse, they are in a great position to continue their challenge for the top seven, which would be enough to win a European place. Vallecano followed three consecutive victories, over Girona, Leganes and Real Valladolid with a couple of 1-0 setbacks, away to Barcelona and at home to Villarreal. Neither of those results, against top sides, were shocks and Vallecano were competitive throughout and responded with a draw against Sevilla.
Perez has moulded together a team without household names, former Espanyol striker Raul de Tomas the most recognised and, despite riding high in the league Rayo don’t have a player with more than four league goals this season. But they do have star quality at right back in the shape of Andrei Ratiu, who has impressed in 24 starts this season. The 26 year old has attracted the attention of a host of European clubs, including Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur and he is a player to watch on Sunday.
History
In the head-to-head meetings Real Madrid have 25 wins to Vallecano’s four and there have been four draws, though the last three meetings have ended in a draw, 3-3 when the two teams met in December.
Recent form is strong for both sides; Rayo have won three, drawn one and lost two of the last six while Los Blancos have won four, drawn one and lost one; and Madrid have won ten, drawn one and lost one at home this season, while Vallecano have won four, drawn five and lost four away from home.
Betting Tip
With the Draw at 5.03 and Vallecano at 7.34 this is clearly a game Los Blancos are expected to win, but I think they will be made to work hard for the three points against a side which conceded only one goal away to Barcelona…it could be a nervy afternoon in Madrid.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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