Real Madrid will look to get back to winning ways when they host Rayo Vallecano at Santiago Bernabeu this Wednesday.
The hosts have endured a frustrating finish to their season, with back-to-back defeats in all competitions soiling the mood of the Copa del Rey winners.
The latest frustration came in their 1-0 loss to Valencia at the weekend. Aside from being their third loss in their last five league games (W2), the game was also soiled by the report of racial abuse on Vinicius Junior.
The Brazilian forward had a torrid time in Estadio Mestalla at the weekend, culminating in being sent off for slapping Valencia’sValencia’s Hugo Duro. So he will miss this game, which will be a huge blow for Carlo Ancelotti’sAncelotti’s side, who are trying to secure a top-two finish.
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Still, Los Blancos have a good record at home and in this fixture. They have won their last three home league games and recorded eleven consecutive H2H victories over Rayo Vallecano.
Like their hosts, the visitors are also looking to return to winning ways after being beaten 2-1 by relegation-battling Espanyol in their last outing.
Yet, although that loss was their third loss in their last four league games (W1), they could still finish in the La Liga top half for the first time since 2013, given that they are sitting in eleventh position, one point behind tenth-placed Osasuna.
But success on the road would help, as they haven’t won a league-away game since the end of January (D2, L5).
That said, we expect over 2.5 goals to be recorded in this game.
