Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano
There will be a Madrid derby of sorts this Sunday as Real Madrid host Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu on the 12th matchday of the 2023-24 La Liga campaign.
These two Madrid-based clubs have shared fun battles in recent years, so SBOTOP football fans should expect nothing less, even if the hosts are the overwhelming favourites to win this match.
Real Madrid are the favourites because of their stature and where they are currently in the Spanish top-flight standings, sitting on top with 28 points.
Meanwhile, seven notches below them is where Rayo Vallecano are, with 17 points, but they aren’t to be underestimated at all.
Without further ado, learn more about these two proud sides by reading our match preview below.
Talking Points
All smiles at the Bernabeu
During the Ballon d’Or gala earlier this week, Jude Bellingham picked up the Kopa Trophy for being the undisputed best young player this past season, while Vinicius Jr. won the Socrates Award for his charity work and anti-racism activism.
Vinicius Jr. also signed an extension at Real Madrid, which will keep him under contract until 2027, while fellow Brazilian Rodrygo also got his bag, which should keep him wearing white until 2028.
Before the gala in France, Los Blancos got their ninth league win of the season when they secured a 2-1 comeback victory against El Clasico rivals Barcelona, courtesy of Jude Bellingham’s brace.
That win essentially put Real Madrid in pole position in the title race since Barcelona slumped to fourth place as a result, although they cannot afford to rest on their laurels.
The only bad news for Carlo Ancelotti’s side right now is their growing injury list, with Aurelien Tchouameni (foot), Eder Militao (knee), Thibaut Courtois (knee), Ferland Mendy (thigh), and Dani Ceballos (hamstring) all sidelined, although Arda Guler might get to play his first Real Madrid game soon after suffering an injury way back during their pre-season tour.
Can Rayo Vallecano punch above their weight?
Rayo Vallecano have not lost any of their last seven La Liga games (W2, D5), and they could go eight straight games without defeat for the first time in top-flight history.
During their unbeaten run, Francisco’s men took care of business mostly against lower-tier sides, although they managed to hold their own against Real Sociedad in their most recent league match (2-2).
They followed that one up with a 6-0 walloping of Atletico de Lugones, a team currently in the Tercera Division in Spain, so certainly their confidence is high heading into this Sunday match.
Rayo Vallecano can score with the best of them, but the one player we’re looking at in particular is Bebe because he is in good form.
The former Manchester United forward has found the back of the net in their last three games, scoring the winning goal against Las Palmas and recording three more against Real Sociedad and Atletico de Lugones, and he’ll be joined up front by the likes of Raul de Tomas, Alvaro Garcia, and Radamel Falcao.
History
Real Madrid haven’t lost a single La Liga home game against Rayo Vallecano since their 2-1 loss in January 1996 (W12, D1), including an ongoing 11-game winning streak while averaging 3.8 goals per game.
These two sides have not drawn in any of their 21 La Liga meetings in the 21st century. Real Madrid have been the dominant team with 19 victories, while Rayo Vallecano have won twice.
Rayo Vallecano beat Real Madrid 3-2 during their first league encounter last season, but Real Madrid bounced back with a 2-1 result in the reverse fixture.
Overall, against fellow Madrid-based sides, Los Blancos have not lost any of their 21 La Liga home games (W17, D4) since a 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in February 2016, scoring at least one goal in each of their last 13 matches (W12, D1) in the process.
Betting Tip
Even if Rayo Vallecano have had some success in this particular matchup recently, Real Madrid are still heavily backed by the La Liga 2023 odds this weekend. Los Blancos are priced at 1.29 to win, while a Rayo Vallecano is pegged at 7.80, and a draw is at 5.00 in the 1X2 market.
Don’t expect a clean sheet from this contest just like their matchups last season since both teams are capable of putting up La Liga 2023 highlights, so alternative bets like Over 3.25 at 2.16 and Total Goals 4-6 at 2.63 are also worth considering.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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