The Vallecas Stadium takes center stage this 17th round in La Liga, a scenario where two opposing worlds are joined: one of a giant, Real Madrid, tirelessly pursuing the top of the table, and another, Rayo Vallecano, battling tooth and nail for every point and carrying the pride of their fans on their shoulders. While the Merengues dream of the league lead after rivals' setbacks, the Franjirrojos want to close the year with a shout of joy in the heart of Madrid.
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Real Madrid and the hunt for the top
This is another survival test for Carlo Ancelotti, who sees a tight schedule and injuries piling up in the medical department. Without Mbappé, Carvajal, Mendy, and with the lingering absences of Militão and Alaba, the Italian coach keeps his focus on what matters: three points.
“This will be a demanding game, especially at this point in the season. Rayo has always given us trouble. They play well, with intensity at home, but we’re confident. We’ll go in with full motivation to take all three points,” said Ancelotti in the pre-match press conference.
That "motivation" spoken of by the coach comes from that important victory against Atalanta, where the team showed strength, consistency, and a collective performance that gave fans new hope. "It was an important moment… There was a lot of commitment, attitude, and teamwork," he added.
And optimism is tangible. After all, in the last 30 days, Madridistas have picked up seven points by taking advantage of Barcelona and Betis's stumbles, with a postponed match against Valencia still ahead. This is the deciding stage of the season.
Rayo Vallecano between resilience and hope
Rayo goes into this game with renewed spirit. This recent victory against Valencia gave what any small team needs to go up against a giant: confidence.
"Wins bring calm and serenity. We must try to replicate the performances we've had against other big teams, attack and score goals," said the coach of Rayo, as if he was sure another result could happen.
For the Real Madrid's absence, the coach knew Kylian Mbappé's absence was going to be great but far from a solution. "It's significant because he's at such a high level. The problem is that whoever replaces him will also have great potential. That doesn't change our game plan," highlighted Iñigo Pérez.
For Rayo, the game depends a lot on the balance between defending strongly and attacking with organization. Pérez also made it clear that they need to be careful against Vinícius Júnior and the wings: "We need to be careful so they don't find openings." Vallecas has already seen epic matches from Rayo against giants, and even aware of the technical differences, the team wants another memorable night.
Key players and adjustments
Mbappé's absence might be felt quite heavily, but Ancelotti has learned to take such blows in his stride. Take the case of Tchouaméni at center-back, for instance - an effort that drew praise from the Italian coach.
"He's being very selfless. He played very well against Atalanta and Girona and it's no coincidence that we won both games with him.
In midfield, Camavinga returns and will be essential in building the team's play, while Bellingham remains the engine to Real Madrid. About the English player, Ancelotti was clear:
"The players decide that through their attitude and performance. In that sense, he's very important."
For Rayo, Trejo remains the central figure in midfield, a player who, according to Iñigo Pérez, commands respect among his teammates and the fans. However, Rayo's attack will need to seize any defensive mistakes and convert their limited chances into goals.