Spain - Primera Division
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Played
September 24, 2012 6:45 PM BST
Estadio del Rayo Vallecano (de Vallecas Teresa Rivero) — Madrid
Referee:‬ David Fernández‎
Attendance:‬ 9747‎
 
 
Karim Benzema 13′
 
Cristiano Ronaldo 70′ (PG)

Rayo Vallecano - Real Madrid Preview: Blancos look to kick-start Liga campaign at Vallecas

Jose Mourinho's side will hope to build on their rousing Champions League win over Manchester City as they set about clawing back an eight-point deficit to leaders Barcelona

By Karthick Arvinth

More On :  Rayo Vallecano, Real Madrid CF, Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid CF
Ronaldo, Real Madrid Vs Manchester city
Getty
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

RAYO VALLECANO

Ruben
Tito, Amat, Casado
Fuego, Adrian
Piti, Trashorras, Carlos
Bille, Baptistao
REAL MADRID

Casillas
Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo
Khedira, Alonso
Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo
Higuain

Rayo Vallecano boss Paco Jemez has a full squad to choose from for Sunday's clash with Real Madrid at Vallecas.

Goalkeeper Ruben is available after missing last weekend's 4-3 defeat at Atletico Madrid through suspension.

Real Madrid have no major injury concerns, but coach Jose Mourinho is likely to make changes to the team that beat Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Sergio Ramos is pushing for a start ahead of Raphael Varane, while Mesut Ozil could be brought in for Michael Essien.

Left-back Fabio Coentrao serves the last of his four-match suspension.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Rayo Vallecano are six places above Real Madrid in the Primera Division standings going into Sunday's match.
  • The Vallecas club have lost their last eight head-to-head meetings with Real.
  • Rayo's last victory over their illustrious city rivals was a 1-0 home win in February 1997.
  • Real Madrid are on a three-match losing streak away from home in all competitions.
  • The Castilian side's 3-2 win over Manchester City was their 100th victory in the Champions League, making them the first club to reach the milestone since the tournament was reformatted in 1992.
  • Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured right) has featured in 46 consecutive Liga matches for Madrid since missing the 3-2 defeat to Real Zaragoza in April 2011.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Rayo Vallecano 8-0 Real Madrid CF
    16.57 %
  • Rayo Vallecano 0-8 Real Madrid CF
    13.53 %
  • Rayo Vallecano 0-3 Real Madrid CF
    8.78 %
Head to Head
Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Feb 17, 2013 Real Madrid CF 2 - Rayo Vallecano 0
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Sep 24, 2012 Rayo Vallecano 0 - Real Madrid CF 2
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Feb 26, 2012 Rayo Vallecano 0 - Real Madrid CF 1
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Sep 24, 2011 Real Madrid CF 6 - Rayo Vallecano 2
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Last Five Matches
Rayo Vallecano
May 19, 2013Levante 2 - Rayo Vallecano 3LIGA
May 12, 2013Rayo Vallecano 0 - Valencia CF 4LIGA
May 5, 2013Zaragoza 3 - Rayo Vallecano 0LIGA
Apr 26, 2013Rayo Vallecano 2 - Osasuna 2LIGA
Apr 19, 2013Mallorca 1 - Rayo Vallecano 1LIGA
Real Madrid CF
May 17, 2013Real Madrid CF 1 - Atletico Madrid 2ESPC
May 11, 2013Espanyol 1 - Real Madrid CF 1LIGA
May 8, 2013Real Madrid CF 6 - Malaga 2LIGA
May 4, 2013Real Madrid CF 4 - Valladolid 3LIGA
Apr 30, 2013Real Madrid CF 2 - Borussia Dortmund 0UCL
Odds
Returns: Rayo Vallecano £1510.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Draw £510.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Real Madrid £13.00 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Team News
Available Squads
25Rubén Martínez AndradeGoalkeeper
2TitoDefender
3CasadoDefender
4Mikel LabakaDefender
5Jordi AmatDefender
-José CarlosMidfielder
18Javi FuegoMidfielder
-Alejandro DomínguezStriker
27LassStriker
23Andrija DelibasicStriker
-Léo BaptistãoStriker
13DaniGoalkeeper
4Alejandro GálvezDefender
23Adrián GonzálezMidfielder
10PitiStriker
17TrashorrasMidfielder
33Mohammed AbuMidfielder
22Nicki BilleStriker
1Iker CasillasGoalkeeper
3PepeDefender
4Sergio RamosDefender
12MarceloDefender
17ArbeloaDefender
14Xabi AlonsoMidfielder
5Michael EssienMidfielder
16Luka ModricMidfielder
22Ángel Di MaríaMidfielder
7Cristiano RonaldoStriker
9Karim BenzemaStriker
13AdánGoalkeeper
19Raphaël VaraneDefender
18Raúl Albiol TortajadaDefender
6Sami KhediraMidfielder
8KakáMidfielder
10Mesut ÖzilMidfielder
20Gonzalo HiguaínStriker
Players to Watch
Trashorras
Trashorras
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 17
Games Goals YC RC
33 1 6 0
A product of Barcelona's La Masia academy, Trashorras is an elegant player who is capable of gliding past players and providing incisive passes. The 31-year-old will probably be ordered to curb his attacking instincts and drop back to put pressure on Ozil whenever Rayo lose possession.
Sergio Ramos
Sergio Ramos
Position: Defender
Squad Number: 4
Games Goals YC RC
26 4 10 1
The Spain international's omission from the starting line-up for the Manchester City game raised a few eyebrows, as Mourinho opted for young Varane in his place. Ramos will be under scrutiny after publicly criticising Mourinho in the aftermath of the drab defeat at Sevilla last week.
Prediction
Rayo have made a solid start to the season but they are a side who will leak goals. The visitors will draw strength from their performance against City and will be determined to reverse their dismal recent away form.
Editor's Prediction
Rayo Vallecano 0
Real Madrid 2
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
Atl. Madrid 		28 8
Roberto Soldado Roberto Soldado
Striker
Valencia 		21 5
Negredo Negredo
Striker
Sevilla 		20 3