Real Madrid resume their three-way La Liga title battle on Sunday when they host Rayo Vallecano in a local derby match.
Los Blancos slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Real Betis last week to allow Barcelona and Atletico Madrid to edge above them at the top of the standings. Barca are three points ahead of Madrid, while Atleti have a two-point gap to their local rivals.
Madrid claimed a 2-1 win over Diego Simeone’s side in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 on Tuesday, but with the return fixture just three days after this game, head coach Carlo Ancelotti must consider how much to rotate his side in order to sustain their challenge on all fronts.
Rayo, meanwhile, sit seventh in the table and are firmly in the hunt to qualify for European football next season.
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Real Madrid vs. Rayo Vallecano lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
Jude Bellingham should return after sitting out the Betis and Atletico games through separate suspensions, although Ancelotti will have to decide whether to save him for the second leg next week and reward Brahim Diaz with another start.
There are suggestions Kylian Mbappe could be rested, while Vinicius Junior may also play just a bit part this weekend and Lucas Vazquez could come in for Federico Valverde. Ancelotti will ponder his midfield options for the coming days, with some doubts around the form of Eduardo Camavinga, whose place in the team to face Atleti next week is uncertain.
Real Madrid predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Courtois(GK) — Vazquez, Asencio, Alaba, Garcia — Modric, Camavinga — Rodrygo, Bellingham, Guler — Endrick
Injured: Carvajal, Militao (both knee), Ceballos (hamstring)
Suspended: None
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There are doubts around the fitness of Isi Palazon, Unai Lopez and Sergio Camello, while Raul De Tomas is also likely to miss out amid conflicting reports about his injury status.
Inigo Perez may stick with the same side that drew 1-1 with Sevilla last time out, although Abdul Mumin went off in the first half of that match and could miss out.
Rayo Vallecano predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Batalla (GK) — Ratiu, Lejeune, Aridane, Chavarria — P. Diaz, Ciss — Embarba, Trejo, A. Garcia — Nteka
Injured: Mumin, Palazon, U. Lopez, Camello (all doubts)
Suspended: None
Real Madrid vs. Rayo Vallecano live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this La Liga match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
