Spain - Primera Division
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Played
February 17, 2013 8:00 PM GMT
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu — Madrid
Referee:‬ José Paradas‎
Attendance:‬ 63000‎
 
3′ Morata
 
12′ Sergio Ramos
 

Real Madrid-Rayo Vallecano Preview: Los Merengues face tricky test against city rivals

The defending Liga champions have little time to mull over their midweek 1-1 draw with Manchester United as they prepare for the visit of Paco Jemez's free-flowing side on Sunday

By Karthick Arvinth

More On :  Rayo Vallecano, Real Madrid CF, Real Madrid CF vs Rayo Vallecano
Cristiano e Higuaín, durante el Real Madrid-Sevilla
Getty Images
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

REAL MADRID

Lopez
Ramos, Pepe, Varane, Coentrao
Khedira, Essien
Callejon, Kaka, Ronaldo
Benzema
RAYO VALLECANO

Ruben
Tito, Galvez, Amat, Casado
Fuego, Trashorras
Bangoura, Dominguez, Piti
Baptistao

Real Madrid trio Alvaro Arbeloa, Luka Modric and Gonzalo Higuain will miss the Primera Division clash against Rayo Vallecano through suspension.

Xabi Alonso (groin) and Iker Casillas (hand) also miss out, while Pepe, Kaka and Jose Callejon could all be handed starts with the Blancos facing their third game in a week.

Rayo forward Leo Baptistao should play despite spraining his ankle during training on Thursday.

Defender Tito returns from suspension, while coach Paco Jemez begins a two-game touchline ban.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Real Madrid have only won two of their last six matches in all competitions (W2, D3, L1).
  • The Castilian giants are unbeaten at home in La Liga this season (W9, D2).
  • Jose Mourinho (pictured, right) will take charge of his 100th Liga match for Madrid on Sunday.
  • Rayo Vallecano have won six of their last eight matches in La Liga.
  • Los Franjirrojos have lost their last nine encounters against the Blancos.
  • Rayo's last victory at the Santiago Bernabeu was a 2-1 success in January 1996.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Real Madrid CF 4-0 Rayo Vallecano
    15.6 %
  • Real Madrid CF 3-0 Rayo Vallecano
    9.19 %
  • Real Madrid CF 3-1 Rayo Vallecano
    8.15 %
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
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
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
Odds
Returns: Real Madrid £12.00 BetVictor Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!
Returns: Draw £62.50 BetVictor Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!
Returns: Rayo Vallecano £130.00 BetVictor Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!
Team News
Available Squads
13Diego López RodríguezGoalkeeper
19Raphaël VaraneDefender
3PepeDefender
4Sergio RamosDefender
15Fabio CoentraoDefender
6Sami KhediraMidfielder
8KakáMidfielder
10Mesut ÖzilMidfielder
5Michael EssienMidfielder
7Cristiano RonaldoStriker
26MorataStriker
-Jesús ColladoGoalkeeper
2Ricardo CarvalhoDefender
18Raúl Albiol TortajadaDefender
21CallejónStriker
22Ángel Di MaríaMidfielder
-Jose RodriguezMidfielder
9Karim BenzemaStriker
25Rubén Martínez AndradeGoalkeeper
2TitoDefender
3CasadoDefender
4Alejandro GálvezDefender
12Jordi FiguerasDefender
10PitiStriker
17TrashorrasMidfielder
18Javi FuegoMidfielder
-Alejandro DomínguezStriker
27LassStriker
-Léo BaptistãoStriker
1CobeñoGoalkeeper
-ArbillaDefender
5Jordi AmatDefender
23Adrián GonzálezMidfielder
-José CarlosMidfielder
-Franco VázquezMidfielder
16PereaStriker
23Andrija DelibasicStriker
Players to Watch
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 7
Games Goals YC RC
34 34 9 0
The 28-year-old scored a brilliant header against former club Manchester United in midweek and looked a threat everytime he received the ball. Ronaldo will be out to add to his record of five goals in three appearances against Rayo Vallecano.
Léo Baptistão
Léo Baptistão
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 0
Games Goals YC RC
28 7 5 0
The young Brazilian has been a key performer in cash-strapped Rayo's astonishing rise to sixth position in the Primera Division standings. With seven Liga goals under his belt, Baptistao has proved to be an excellent replacement for Michu, who departed to Swansea City in the summer.
Prediction
Real are likely to make several changes on Sunday, so fatigue should not be a factor in this local derby. Rayo will be on a high after last weekend's win over Atletico Madrid, but they have struggled to replicate their form away from home.
Editor's Prediction
Real Madrid 2
Rayo Vallecano 1
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