Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-11-04 20:00.
Real Madrid fans are a happy bunch after their side struck late to beat Barcelona 2-1 in the first Clásico of the season, committed Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo to new contracts and saw Jude Bellingham pick up the Kopa Trophy! The derby win put four points between them and fierce rivals Barcelona, but they still had Girona for company at the sharp end of the La Liga (LL) standings ahead of the round.
After no midweek fixture, Los Blancos should be fully refreshed for the visit of fellow capital club Rayo Vallecano, although manager Carlo Ancelotti will make at least one change after Aurélien Tchouaméni suffered a foot fracture against Barcelona. With his side unbeaten in nine home league games (W8, D1) and winning the last 12 home H2Hs, he may still be tempted to rest a few of his big stars ahead of their return to European action.
But Rayo will pose a threat, as since being walloped 10-2 here in 2015, they’ve lost each of their last three visits by single-goal margins and beat Madrid 3-2 on their own patch last term. They’ve also a eight-match unbeaten streak to protect (W3, D5), including a confidence-boosting midweek 6-0 Copa del Rey win, as their bid to go eight LL games without defeat (W2, D5) for the first time and break into the top-six gathers momentum.
Victory here would still be an enormous shock as the last time they won at the Santiago Bernabéu was in January 1996, a game which saw two goals inside the first four minutes! They’re yet to strike or concede anything like that early on the road in the league this term, although four of their seven LL away goals arrived between the 16th and 30th minute.
Players to watch: Rodrygo scored the 89th-minute winner in this fixture last term, but three of his four club strikes since then arrived between the 15th and 30th minute. Madrid will have to keep an eye on Bebé, particularly if the game is tight late on, as he scored in injury time of both of Rayo’s last two LL games.
Hot streak: None of the last 22 LL H2Hs ended level (Madrid: W20, L2).