Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano predictions and match preview for Wednesday’s LaLiga fixture. Read on for analysis, team news and predicted lineups ahead of this Madrid derby.
| Date | Wednesday 24th May 2023 |
| Kick-Off | 19:30 (CEST) |
| Stadium | Santiago Bernabeu |
| Competition | LaLiga |
Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano Preview
There’s a Madrid derby at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. Real Madrid are back in action at home for the first time since they were sent packing from the Champions League in convincing fashion by Manchester City.
It’s also their first game since a very controversial and ill-tempered game at Valencia. They lost the match 1-0 with Vini Junior sent off, although the match was overshadowed by a racism storm with the Brazilian once again sadly the victim of racist taunts before and during the game. The 22 year old has been the target of racist insults throughout the 2022/23 season but it felt like things really did come to a head on an ugly Sunday afternoon at Mestalla.
Carlo Ancelotti was in no mood to talk about football after that match but he would have soon had to return to the task of preparing his side, which won’t feature the suspended Vini, for the visit of Rayo.
This game should be an altogether calmer affair and there’s not really much riding on it for Real Madrid. They are a point behind Atleti now in the race for 2nd place but it won’t make an enormous difference whether they get it or not. Instead much of the focus will be on matters off the pitch with speculation rife as to whether or not Ancelotti will continue for another year.
Rayo also face managerial uncertainty with Andoni Iraola widely tipped to leave the club in the summer. A European place may have been one thing that could have convinced the highly rated Basque coach to stay on but that is looking unlikely now after his side were beaten 2-1 at home by Espanyol at the weekend.
They didn’t really deserve to lose that game but it wasn’t one of Rayo’s better displays with a slightly flat feel at times, which isn’t really typical of them at all. They are now 4 points off 7th place heading into this matchday and will most likely need to win at the Bernabeu to stay in the hunt for a Conference League place. They can at least take confidence from an excellent record against the big clubs since their return to the top flight with 7 points so far this season from their 3 games against Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Team News & Possible Lineups
Real Madrid
| INJURED | |
| DOUBTFUL | |
| BANNED | Vini Junior |
Possible XI: Courtois – Camavinga, Nacho, Alaba, Carvajal – Valverde, Kroos, Modric – Asensio, Benzema, Rodrygo (4-3-3)
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
Rayo Vallecano
| INJURED | |
| DOUBTFUL | |
| BANNED | Mario Suarez |
Possible XI: Dimitrievski – Fran Garcia, Catena, Lejeune, Balliu – Comesana, Valentin – Alvaro Garcia, Unai Garcia, Isi – De Tomas (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Andoni Iraola
Score Prediction: Real Madrid 3-1 Rayo Vallecano
Real Madrid will of course be missing Vini here which is a blow but it should be a stronger eleven overall than the one that took to the field at Mestalla last time out. They ought to be too strong for a Rayo side that does sometimes struggle during these busier periods when they need to play more than once in a week with their squad depth among the weakest in LaLiga.
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