Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-03-08 15:15.
[p]After losing ground in the La Liga title race with defeat to Betis, Real Madrid managed to bounce back when overcoming Atlético Madrid in midweek to put one foot in the final eight of the Champions League. Engaged in a three-way battle for the La Liga title with Atlético and Barcelona, reigning champions Real know that with the top two playing each other in the next round, victory here could be key.[/p]
[p]Registering back-to-back titles for the first time since 2008 hangs in the balance for Real, who possess fewer points than at this stage of four of their last five seasons. And whether they can improve their points total here remains to be seen, as Real have only won two of their league games against top-eight opponents this season (D4, L3), although it should be noted that both wins did come by a 2-0 scoreline right here at the Bernabéu. [/p]
[p]As one of seven sides between 6th-12th separated by just five points and thus in contention for the final European qualification spot, Rayo Vallecano make the short trip to the Bernabéu with plenty to prove. Entering this round just one place shy of the top-six, Rayo must improve on their winless return against fellow top-eight sides (D4, L5) if they’re to stay firmly in the hunt for their first European qualification since 2000/01. [/p]
[p]Despite heading into this with extremely long odds, visiting boss Iñigo Pérez may be quietly confident of causing an upset after playing out draws in both of his H2Hs against Ancelotti’s Real, meaning that Rayo have lost just one of the last five meetings (W1, D3). That form is identical to Rayo’s return across their last five away league games (W1, D3, L1), with a 1-0 defeat to Barcelona ending the run to ensure that three of their four away league defeats saw just one goal. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Jude Bellingham returns to the fold after missing three of Real’s last four games through suspension – the Englishman has either scored, assisted (G1, A1) or picked up cards in his last four appearances. Álvaro Garcia assisted last weekend while nine of his last ten Rayo goals were team openers, albeit only one of the last eight scoring appearances came in victories. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Ahead of the round, Rayo have failed to win a joint league-high nine times when scoring first this season (W6, D6, L3). [/p]
[p][i]Written by Matthew Billon[/i][/p]