Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid Prediction & Betting Tips (18 February)

Rayo Vallecano quickly realized that this season: there was no place to enter the race for Europe with the best and the Madrid club will have to be content to stay in the elite. It's off to a good start with a comfortable lead of eleven points over Cadiz, which is barely making any progress this year. Clearly, the Vallecas residents should hold on but they may harbor regrets due to their lack of conviction and ambition over the entirety of their season. Last weekend, they recorded a fourth defeat in the space of five days, on the pitch of Mallorca 2-1 which sounded the death knell for coach Francisco Rodriguez, replaced by during the 2022-2023 financial year. who had been the club's assistant two seasons ago.

Real Madrid took the option of the title last weekend by slapping Girona, its runner-up at the Santiago Bernabéu 4-0. A victory which allows the Merengue to be five steps ahead of the Catalans and especially ten ahead of Barça at the start of this day. Beaten only once in La Liga this year by Atlético in September, Casa Blanca will now have to manage this lead, all while dealing with the Champions League matches. Furthermore, the White House started its double opposition with RB Leipzig this week by winning on the smallest score, being dominated but never falling into panic 0-1.

The majority of the squad will be ready for this Madrid mini-derby apart from the possible absence of Mendez (rotation). For the rest, essential boys like Isi Palazon (3 goals in La Liga), Aleix Garcia (6 pawns), the veteran Falcao and the summer recruit Sergio Camello (6 goals last season in La Liga at the club) will be there. ordeal continues for Ancelotti who, as a bonus of having to deal without Alaba, Militao, Rüdiger or even Courtois (all injured), must also do without Bellingham (16 goals, top scorer in La Liga, double against Girona) and without his postman X, Brahim Diaz (7 TCC goals) who injured this week against Leipzig after a very beautiful goal (the only scorer of the game elsewhere).

Returning to his best level without injuries, Ferland Mendy will be suspended today for accumulation of yellow cards.