Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid

After taking full control of the La Liga title race last weekend, Real Madrid make the short trip across the capital to face Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

An emphatic 4-0 victory over Girona saw Madrid take a five-point lead at the summit and a 36th La Liga title is already within reach. Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are unlikely to stage late challenges.

Sunday’s visitors were also in action on Tuesday night as their Champions League knockout stage campaign began away at RB Leipzig. In the absence of several stars, Madrid slenderly prevailed thanks to a sequence of brilliance from Brahim Diaz.

Vallecano frustrated Madrid in the reverse fixture, holding out for a stalemate, and it once appeared as if they could challenge for a European spot. However, the hosts have won just one of their previous 14 La Liga matches, slumping to 14th in the table. They also parted ways with manager Francisco Rodriguez ahead of this fixture.

Here’s 90min’s preview of Real Madrid’s upcoming La Liga clash.

Rayo Vallecano confirmed lineup vs Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Dimitrievski; Balliu, Hernandez, Lejeune, Espino; Lopes, Valentin; Palazon, Trejo, Garcia; De Tomas.

Real Madrid confirmed lineup vs Rayo Vallecano (4-3-1-2): Lunin; Vazquez, Tchouameni, Nacho, Garcia; Camavinga, Modric, Valverde; Diaz; Vinicius, Joselu.

The ideals installed by Andoni Iraola have faded somewhat at Vallecano, althought the hosts’ most likely route to success on Sunday is winning the ball high up the pitch and transitioning against a depleted Madrid backline.

Madrid were fortunate in the week to escape with a win, with Ancelotti’s side proving time and time again they don’t need to be at their best to triumph. The visitors certainly won’t need to be close to their apex to claim victory against a slumping Vallecano side.