Real Madrid drinks vermouth in Vallecas
Ancelotti's men want to remain strong at the top of the table in their visit to a Rayo team that has a new coach and sees relegation up close.
MADRID, 17 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid visits Rayo Vallecano this Sunday on matchday 25 of LaLiga EA Sports 2023-2024, a duel to which the meringues arrive as strong leaders after beating Girona, although their recent Champions League commitment raised some doubts due to the level shown. Therefore, they must remain firm and maintain or expand their cushion on the table, while the Rayistas get a new coach, Iñigo Pérez, with whom they want to straighten their course to avoid getting into a problem.
The Vallecas Stadium hosts this Sunday, at vermouth time (2:00 p.m.), a Rayo-Real Madrid match that is important for the objectives of both teams. For the whites, to maintain their status as the strong leader of the domestic championship, although with significant losses and four days after the first leg of the Champions League round of 16. For the locals, because they need the three points to not fall too far down the table and start the 'Iñigo Pérez era' on the right foot.
In a week marked by the news of Kylian Mbappé's departure from PSG this summer, the meringues won by the minimum (0-1) in Leipzig to take the first step in the Champions League crossroads. Although he did it suffering, due to a gray version, and seeing how an early initial goal by the Germans was annulled due to an offside due to interference that sparked a lot of controversy.
As expected in Vallecas, Ancelotti did not rotate in Germany, also after last weekend's 4-0 defeat of Girona to lead the way to the League title. And the Madrid team took the lead with five points ahead of the Gironís, also widening the distance over FC Barcelona – to 10 points – and Atlético de Madrid – 13 points -, theoretical rivals for the trophy.
Placid victory for Real Madrid, who nevertheless paid a perhaps too expensive toll. The Englishman Jude Bellingham scored a double against Girona, but he was injured with a high-grade sprain that will keep him off the field for about three weeks. His natural replacement is Brahim, and that was the case in Leipzig, where the man from Malaga scored a dream goal, although he did not finish the game either due to a problem in his soleus that will prevent him from being in Vallecas.
The meringues defend a defensive solidity in the Rayista fiefdom that, despite the losses, they have recovered in recent weeks. And in the last five games, they have only conceded two goals, with three clean sheets. All this, despite the numerous and sensitive casualties at the back, which Ancelotti is saving with emergency solutions.
In addition to the losses of Éder Militao and David Alaba, Real Madrid visits Vallecas without the suspended Ferland Mendy, while Antonio Rüdiger is a serious doubt due to a severe bruise on his left leg. Thus, except for the entry of Fran García and the choice between Joselu and Luka Modric, the obligatory changes, the Italian coach will maintain the Leipzig eleven, taking into account that he will host Sevilla in a week, and then visit Valencia, before the second leg of the Champions League round of 16.
EL RAYO TURNS TO IÑIGO PÉREZ TO WIN AGAIN
In front of them will be a Rayo Vallecano in need of points and victories, which debuts against Real Madrid as a new coach. And after the dismissal of Francisco Rodríguez, the young Iñigo Pérez, second to Andoni Iraola – former coach of Rayo – took charge of the Rayista bench. And among the fans there is hope and excitement to see the team play again like last year with the Basque coach, although we will have to wait to see if the Navarrese introduces significant changes.
There is not much time for experiments, since the new coach's main mission will be to leave behind the current negative streak, with only one win in the last 14 games. In addition, a victory would allow them to begin to build their strength at home, since they have only won one game at home this season – against Alavés (2-0), in September -.
In the last match against Mallorca, Rayo had three defeats in a row, after a goal 'in extremis' by Vedat Muriqi, another match in which they were not very successful in front of goal – three goals in five games -. Solidity at the back is also a pending issue, with a very poor defensive performance – two clean sheets in eight games -.
However, the franjirrojos will remember the first round match, with a 0-0 scoreline that marked Real Madrid's first setback at home this season. Furthermore, Rayo already beat Real Madrid in Vallecas last season (3-2), a mirror in which to look. On this occasion, with the very probable loss of Pep Chavarría due to injury, while the veteran Óscar Trejo aims to start, with the doubt as to whether the striker will be Sergio Camello or Raúl de Tomás.
DATASHEET.
–POSIBLE ALIGNMENTS:
RAYO VALLECANO: Dimitrievski; Balliu, Aridane, Lejeune, Espino; Valentín, Ciss, Trejo; Palazón, Camello and Álvaro García.
REAL MADRID: Lunin; Carvajal, Tchouameni, Nacho, Fran García; Kroos, Valverde, Camavinga, Modric; Rodrygo and Vinícius.
–REFEREE: Muñiz Ruiz (C. Gallego).
–STADIUM: Vallecas.
–TIME: 2:00 p.m./Movistar+ LaLiga.