Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano – La Liga December 2018 Preview and Scores

Match Preview

Real Madrid are set to welcome Rayo Vallecano to the Bernabeu, looking to make it nine wins in La Liga this season. They currently sit fourth in La Liga and five points off log leaders Barcelona.

Rayo have struggled for form this season and currently occupy 19th spot on the table.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid were defeated by CSKA Moscow In the Champions league and the Los Blancos will want to react in a positive way to the shock defeat. Madrid supporters booed off their own players as they left the field, as CSKA Moscow put them to the sword.

Santiago Solari’s side have already booked their place in the knockout stages but the match proved embarrassing because they were defeated by 3 goals.

The match against Rayo will be their final domestic match of 2018 as they prepare to head to the United Arab Emirates to compete in the Club World Cup once again.

It has been a turbulent start to the 2018-19 campaign, but they have made it to the next round of both the Champions League and Copa del Rey, and are in a better position in the table than their results would suggest.

Toni Kroos is back from a knee injury but Casemiro and Nacho remain on the treatment table. Luka Modric, Dani Ceballos and Sergio Ramos are expected to start with Gareth Bale and Lucas Vasquez also in line to be called up.

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:

Courtois; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Ceballos, Kroos, Modric; Lucas, Benzema, Bale

Rayo Vallecano

Rayo has endured a turbulent start as a record of two wins, four draws and nine defeats from their first 15 matches of the 2018-19 campaign has left them down in 19th spot in the division.

They must start winning matches to stand any chance of surviving the drop to the Segunda division.

Rayo have only managed 15 goals in their 15 league matches this season, and have conceded 30. It is the joint-worst defensive record in the division alongside basement side Huesca.

The madrid outfit have actually lost each of their last 16 games with Real Madrid, and have been victorious in just one of their last 24 away La Liga matches, which will not fill their fans with confidence ahead of the clash at the Bernabeu.

Alvaro Garcia and Adri Embarba could make the team at the back. Gorka Elustondo and Gael Kakuta are still out injured with knee and hip problems respectively. On-loan Stoke City midfielder Giannelli Imbula will start for the away side.

Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:

Dimitrievski; Advincula, Galvez, Amat, Moreno; Trejo, Pozo, Imbula, Comesana; Embarba, Garcia

Head To Head

Rayo have lost each of their last 16 matches against Real Madrid.

Scores

Real Madrid 1 – 0 Rayo Vallencano

K. Benzema 13′

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