Real Madrid is set to face Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabéu on Sunday, aiming for their sixth consecutive league victory. The 15-time European champions were riding high with three back-to-back wins under new manager Álvaro Arbeloa, but their momentum took a hit after a disappointing 4-2 loss to Benfica in the Champions League, which has knocked them out of the top eight and into the knockout playoffs where they’ll meet José Mourinho’s squad again.
Looking ahead, Real Madrid must refocus on La Liga before tackling their European challenges. Despite Rayo Vallecano’s current position in 16th place, history shows that this matchup can be tricky; they held Los Blancos to a goalless draw last November, and four of their last five encounters ended in draws. A setback in this match for Real would intensify the scrutiny on the club and allow their rivals Barcelona a chance to reclaim control of the La Liga title race.
The match is scheduled for Sunday, February 1, with kick-off at 8 a.m. ET at the Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. Fans can catch the game through various channels including ESPN in the United States and Premier Sports 2 in the United Kingdom.
For Real Madrid, the squad is still dealing with several key injuries as Éder Militão, Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy, and Trent Alexander-Arnold remain sidelined. Although Alexander-Arnold is beginning to recover, the club is taking a cautious approach with his reintegration. However, Arbeloa will have access to others, including Rodrygo and Raúl Asencio, who are eligible to participate in this match despite serving suspensions in European play.
Rayo Vallecano, on the other hand, will be without Abdul Mumin and Andrei Rațiu. The potential return of Iván Balliu, who is undergoing fitness tests, could bolster their defense. Ilias Akhomach is also aiming for a starting position after making a brief appearance in his debut last week.
Recent match predictions lean towards Real Madrid, with the expectation that despite the pressures of the home crowd, they can capitalize on Rayo Vallecano’s weaknesses, particularly with the firepower of stars like Kylian Mbappé. Analysts predict a win for Real Madrid, estimating a scoreline of 3-1.
As fans eagerly anticipate the match, the pressure is on Real Madrid to deliver, reaffirm their position in the league, and not let their recent European slip derail their domestic ambitions.