Rayo Vallecano host Real Madrid on Sunday night with relegation nearly confirmed. The Madrid-based club will welcome the much larger Real Madrid to Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas in hopes of causing an upset.
Real Madrid have consolidated their grip on third place in La Liga. Los Blancos are undefeated in their last three matches, but must play fourth-place Getafe on Thursday night before meeting Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
Striker Karim Benzema has been in the form of a lifetime since Zinedine Zidane’s return to management. Benzema has scored eight goals in his last five La Liga matches.
His goals tally includes a hat-trick against Athletic Bilbao last weekend as the Frenchman can’t stop scoring.
Rayo Vallecano’s attack has scored 36 goals this season which isn’t a bad mark in La Liga. Their downfall has been an inability to stop teams from scoring.
Manager Paco Jemez’s team has allowed the second most goals in the league with 57. That figure can still increase ahead of Sunday’s tie as Rayo Vallecano will visit Sevilla on Thursday night.
In 21 meetings between Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid dating back to 1999, just once have Los Blancos lost. Rayo Vallecano’s one and only win during that time span came in the Copa del Rey in 2002.
If Rayo Vallecano are to get a point from Real Madrid, it could come thanks to a goal from Raul de Tomas. The 24-year-old striker has tallied 14 of Rayo Vallecano’s 36 scores.
De Tomas is a Real Madrid player on loan until the end of the season at Rayo Vallecano. The club has already approached Real Madrid to ask for permission to play De Tomas on Sunday.
He could still suit up for Rayo Vallecano against his parent club. However, having scored 14 times, Real Madrid may not allow him to play.
According to reports, De Tomas could be Zindane’s new No. 9 to partner with Benzema next term.
Zidane probably wishes he has De Tomas to play currently, as the Real Madrid manager has several injury issues. The injury problem at the Santiago Bernabeu could be exacerbated by Real Madrid’s midweek game against Getafe.
Vinicius Jr and Sergio Ramos are likely to miss the trip to Rayo Vallecano. Meanwhile, Zidane has not selected Gareth Bale in recent games and could sit the Welshman once more due to his poor form.
Real Madrid have lost five of 16 away games this season. Despite their poor road form, Real Madrid should have no difficulty picking up all three points against La Liga’s bottom side.