After a shocking defeat in the Champions League, Real Madrid will be eager to return to winning ways when they host Rayo Vallecano in La Liga.

Relegation-threatened Rayo Vallecano will look to end their losing streak in La Liga when they hit the road to face giants Real Madrid. Both teams are desperate to claim all three points for completely different reasons.

The home team are second on the points table with 51 points in their 21 outings, thanks to 16 wins and three draws. Los Blancos have won each of their last five league games heading into this fixture. But their overall form has been a massive concern.

Alvaro Arbeloa started his tenure with a shocking defeat to a second division club in the Copa del Rey. Post that, they were on a roll, winning three in a row. However, Real Madrid were stunned by Benfica in the UEFA Champions League last time out, and they will be desperate to return to winning ways.

Meanwhile, the visitors are 16th on the table with 22 points in their 21 outings, with just five wins to their name. Los Franjirrojos are only a point clear of 18th-placed RCD Mallorca and cannot really afford to lose another game, as they could find themselves in the drop zone.

Since winning against Mallorca, they have lost each of their last three outings. 2-0 to Alaves in the cup and 3-0 defeats at the hands of Celta Vigo and Osasuna in the league. Given their recent form, going up against a Real Madrid side looking for a statement win could prove very difficult. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.

Team News & Tactics

Real Madrid

Trent Alexander-Arnold (thigh), Eder Militao (hamstring), Ferland Mendy (hamstring), and Antonio Rudiger (knee) remain on the sidelines for the team in white. Raul Asencio and Rodrygo, who picked up red cards in their UEFA Champions League outing, are available for this league fixture.

Real Madrid will line up in a 4-3-3 formation, where Thibaut Courtois will be in goal. Federico Valverde and Alvaro Carreras will feature as the full-backs, while Raul Asencio will pair up with Dean Huijsen in the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, Eduardo Camavinga could start alongside Aurelien Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham. Arda Guler will have to settle for a spot on the bench, as Arbeloa will most likely look for more control in midfield.

Rodrygo should return to the starting XI. The Brazilian international will take charge on the right wing, while Vinicius Junior will start on the left flank, and Kylian Mbappe will continue to lead the line for Real Madrid against Rayo Vallecano.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras; Camavinga, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Junior

Rayo Vallecano

The visitors will be without the services of Abdul Mumin (knee) and Andrei Ratiu (leg), while Ivan Balliu is expected to feature in the XI despite picking up a knock.

Rayo Vallecano will line up in a 4-3-3 formation, where Augusto Batalla will feature in goal. Ivan Balliu and Pep Chavarria will take charge as the full-backs, while Florian Lejeune will partner with Pathe Ciss in central defence.

In the centre of the park, Isi Palazon will start alongside Oscar Valentin and Pedro Diaz. The trio will look to shield the backline and ensure the Real Madrid midfielders do not run the show.

Ilias Akhomach and Alvaro Garcia will feature on the flanks, while Jorge de Frutos will spearhead the Rayo Vallecano attack against Real Madrid. The trio will wait for the opportunity to hit Los Blancos on the break.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Batalla; Balliu, Lejeune, Ciss, Chavarria; Palazon, Valentin, Diaz; Akhomach, De Frutos, Alvaro Garcia

Key Stats

• Rayo Vallecano are heading into this fixture on the back of three straight defeats.
• While Real Madrid have won each of their last five league outings, they are heading into this fixture on the back of a humiliating defeat at the hands of Benfica in the UEFA Champions League.
• Los Franjirrojos have suffered defeat in seven out of their 11 away games.
• Rayo Vallecano have failed to win at the Bernabeu since January 1996.
• Four out of the last five meetings between the two teams have finished level.

Player to Watch

Vinicius Junior

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Vinicius Junior will be one to watch as Real Madrid return to the Bernabeu, with the Brazilian international eager to respond after an inconsistent run of form. Following the defeat to Benfica, he will be under pressure to deliver, especially with sections of the home crowd unhappy with his performances this season.

Despite the criticism, Vinicius has still contributed seven goals and 11 assists across 32 appearances in all competitions, underlining his ability to influence games. A strong showing here could go a long way in winning back the fans and reaffirming his importance to Los Blancos.

Prediction

Real Madrid 4-0 Rayo Vallecano

Real Madrid will see this fixture as the perfect opportunity to make a statement after their UEFA Champions League setback. With their strong league form intact and a point to prove in front of the Bernabeu crowd, Los Blancos should look to dominate proceedings from the outset, using their quality in attack to put Rayo under sustained pressure.

Rayo Vallecano’s recent struggles, especially away from home, make this a daunting task, and their leaky defence could be exposed by Real Madrid’s frontline. While the visitors may try to stay compact and hit on the counter, it is difficult to see them resisting for long against a wounded but motivated Real Madrid side. The Hard Tackle predicts a 4-0 win for the home team.