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Played
September 24, 2011 7:00 PM BST
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu — Madrid
Referee:‬ José Paradas‎
Attendance:‬ 72000‎
 
38′ Cristiano Ronaldo
Michu 1′
45′ Gonzalo Higuaín
Michu 55′
51′ (PG) Cristiano Ronaldo
 
67′ Raphaël Varane
 
73′ Karim Benzema
 
84′ (PG) Cristiano Ronaldo
 

Real Madrid – Rayo Vallecano Preview: Jose Mourinho's men need to get back to winning ways after failing to pick up three points in last two games

The hosts will be looking to get back into their groove in La Liga against their local rivals when the two sides meet on Saturday evening

By Luke Matthews

More On :  Rayo Vallecano, Real Madrid, Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano
Liga BBVA: Levante-Real Madrid: Gonzalo Higuain
Getty

 PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Casillas; Ramos, Carvalho, Varane, Marcelo; Xabi Alonso, Khedira; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo; Benzema


Sami Khedira returns for Jose Mourinho's side after serving a one-game suspension and is expected to replace Lassana Diarra in centre midfield. Sergio Ramos is also likely to return to the starting line-up in place of Alvaro Arbeloa at right-back.

With Pepe and Fabio Coentrao out injured, Raphael Varane will continue at centre-half while Angel Di Maria may regain his place in the team, with Jose Callejon dropping to the bench.

Rayo Vallecano (4-2-3-1): Gimenez; Tito, Labaka, Figueras, Raul Bravo; Fuego, Movilla; Trashorras, Pacheco, Michu; Piti


The newly-promoted side will be without on-loan Arsenal winger Pedro Botelho, who was sent-off in their 2-1 defeat to Levante on Wednesday. Dani Pacheco, another loanee, is likely to come in for the Brazilian.

Mikel Labaka is expected to continue in defence, leaving Alejando Arribas on the bench while Piti will lead the frontline, despite failing to score this season.


 DID YOU KNOW?

  • Real Madrid have scored 10 goals in four Liga games so far this season, despite failing to find the net in their last two matches.

  • When the two sides last met in the league, Madrid ran out 3-1 winners at the Bernabeu in April 2003.

  • Jose Mourinho has one of the youngest squads in La Liga, with Madrid's squad age averaging 24.5 years old.

  • Ricardo Carvalho has already accrued three yellow cards in La Liga this season, despite the new campaign only being a month old.

  • Rayo Vallecano were promoted to the Primera Division last season, ending an eight-year absence from Spain's top-flight.

  • The club are based in the Madrid neighbourhood of Vallecas and are one of Jose Mourinho's men's local rivals.

  • Rayo have met Madrid on 14 occasions, winning two, drawing one and losing the remaining 11 encounters.

  • Like Madrid, the side's only defeat of the season has come against Levante with Jose Ramon Sandoval's side currently sitting in 10th place.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Real Madrid 5-0 Rayo Vallecano
    13.78 %
  • Real Madrid 3-0 Rayo Vallecano
    11.45 %
  • Real Madrid 4-0 Rayo Vallecano
    11.4 %
Head to Head
La Liga ‎(LIGA)‎ 17 Feb 2013 Real Madrid 2 - Rayo Vallecano 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
La Liga ‎(LIGA)‎ 24 Sep 2012 Rayo Vallecano 0 - Real Madrid 2
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
La Liga ‎(LIGA)‎ 26 Feb 2012 Rayo Vallecano 0 - Real Madrid 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
La Liga ‎(LIGA)‎ 24 Sep 2011 Real Madrid 6 - Rayo Vallecano 2
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Last Five Matches
Real Madrid
17 May 2013Real Madrid 1 - Atlético de Madrid 2ESPC
11 May 2013Espanyol 1 - Real Madrid 1LIGA
8 May 2013Real Madrid 6 - Málaga 2LIGA
4 May 2013Real Madrid 4 - Valladolid 3LIGA
30 Apr 2013Real Madrid 2 - Borussia Dortmund 0UCL
Rayo Vallecano
19 May 2013Levante UD 2 - Rayo Vallecano 3LIGA
12 May 2013Rayo Vallecano 0 - Valencia 4LIGA
5 May 2013Zaragoza 3 - Rayo Vallecano 0LIGA
26 Apr 2013Rayo Vallecano 2 - Osasuna 2LIGA
19 Apr 2013Mallorca 1 - Rayo Vallecano 1LIGA
Odds
Returns: Real Madrid £11.30 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Draw £410.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Rayo Vallecano £710.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
1Iker CasillasGoalkeeper
12MarceloDefender
19Raphaël VaraneDefender
18Raúl Albiol TortajadaDefender
4Sergio RamosDefender
7Cristiano RonaldoStriker
85Lassana DiarraMidfielder
8KakáMidfielder
14Xabi AlonsoMidfielder
22Ángel Di MaríaMidfielder
20Gonzalo HiguaínStriker
13AdánGoalkeeper
17ArbeloaDefender
6Sami KhediraMidfielder
10Mesut ÖzilMidfielder
14Esteban GraneroMidfielder
21CallejónStriker
9Karim BenzemaStriker
13DaniGoalkeeper
3CasadoDefender
12Jordi FiguerasDefender
31ArribasDefender
2TitoDefender
10PitiStriker
7MovillaMidfielder
9MichuMidfielder
18Javi FuegoMidfielder
27LassStriker
9Raúl TamudoStriker
1CobeñoGoalkeeper
-Rafa GarcíaMidfielder
17TrashorrasMidfielder
23Andrija DelibasicStriker
12Dani PachecoStriker
8Néstor SusaetaMidfielder
-MíchelMidfielder
Players to Watch
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 7
Games Goals YC RC
34 34 9 0
After scoring four goals in the first two league games, the Portuguese attacker has looked off colour in his last three appearances for Madrid. His team-mates will be hoping he is back to his best against Rayo in a game where they need to pick up all three points.
Trashorras
Trashorras
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 17
Games Goals YC RC
33 1 6 0
The former Celta Vigo man, who joined the club in the summer, represented Real Madrid B between 2003 and 2005 and he will be looking to impress against the side where he failed to make the grade. He will need to be at his creative best for his team to stand a chance against the La Liga giants.
Probable Lineups
Iker Casillas 1
Marcelo 12
Raphaël Varane 19
Raúl Albiol Tortajada 18
Sergio Ramos 4
Cristiano Ronaldo 7
Lassana Diarra 85
Kaká 8
Xabi Alonso 14
Ángel Di María 22
Gonzalo Higuaín 20
Dani 13
Casado 3
Jordi Figueras 12
Arribas 31
Tito 2
Piti 10
Movilla 7
Michu 9
Javi Fuego 18
Lass 27
Raúl Tamudo 9
Prediction
After two disappointing results on the road, it is difficult to imagine Jose Mourinho's men not returning to winning ways at the Bernabeu. Rayo have made a bright start to their first La Liga campaign in eight years but a trip to their more illustrious neighbours will be a different proposition altogether.
Editor's Prediction
Real Madrid 4
Rayo Vallecano 0
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona 		46 4
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid 		34 6
Radamel Falcao Radamel Falcao
Striker
Atlético Madrid 		28 8
Roberto Soldado Roberto Soldado
Striker
Valencia 		21 5
Negredo Negredo
Striker
Sevilla 		20 3

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