Quick Analysis:
Gareth Bale is set to miss out on Saturday owing to an ankle issue he seemed to have picked up in the previous fixture against CSKA. Defender Nacho is a definite absentee for Real Madrid, while Casemiro, Sergio Reguilon, and Mariano Diaz are significant doubts to be involved at the weekend. Solari is likely to make any changes to the side that took the field in the European encounter earlier this week. Thibaut Courtois should, however, hold on to his spot in the starting XI and look to bounce back actively, having let in three goals in the last game. In defence, Dani Carvajal should be reinstated to the starting XI at right-back, while mainstay Marcelo will hold on to his spot on the left. Raphael Varane and captain Sergio Ramos, both of whom did not start in Europe, should return at the heart of the defence.
While Rayo will be without defender Jordi Amat, who is suspended for the match. Gael Kakuta, Lass and Gorka Elustondo are all out with injuries, while striker Raul de Tomas, on loan from Real Madrid, is ineligible to feature against his parent club. Midfielder Oscar Trejo has also been omitted from the squad by manager Michel. Stole Dimitrievski is likely to feature in goal for Vallecano on Saturday. He will be shielded by a back four comprising of Luis Advincula and Alex Moreno as the full-backs on the right and left sides respectively, with Alejandro Galvez and Emiliano Velazquez at the heart of the backline.22-year-old Santi Comesana will start at the base of the midfield for Los Vallecanos. Former Stoke City midfielder Gianelli Imbula should feature from the get-go on Saturday, while Alvaro Medran should take up another slot in the middle of the park, replacing the injured Trejo.
Probable Line-ups:
Real Madrid: Courtois (GK); Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Llorente, Ceballos; Vazquez, Benzema, Vinicius.
Rayo Vallecano: Dimitrievski (GK); Advincula, Galvez, Velazquez, Moreno; Comesana; Medran, Imbula; Pozo; Embarba, Garcia.
My PlayerzPot XI:
PlayerzPot Prediction:
Real Madrid suffered an embarrassing defeat earlier this week against CSKA Moscow and will be eager to bounce back with a strong performance on Saturday. A winning can be guaranteed.
