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Three talking points ahead of Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid | La Liga MD12
Real Madrid have enjoyed a relatively long time off after their last game which was against Liverpool at Anfield – one that ended in a painful 1-0 defeat which could have been worse if not for Thibaut Courtois.
Having suffered just their second defeat of the season midweek, Real Madrid will look to bounce back when they take on Rayo Vallecano Sunday night in what is their second consecutive away game.
The last time the two teams met at the venue, they played out a 3-3 draw in what was a topsy-turvy affair where Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham, and Federico Valverde were all on the scoresheet.
Tomorrow, Los Blancos will look for a different result where they come out on top, something they have not done at the venue since 2022.
Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid.
The right time to bounce back
While Real Madrid have appeared dominant and disciplined against most of their opponents across competitions this season, Liverpool had Xabi Alonso’s number and surprisingly took them down with ease.
Arne Slot’s men appeared to know Los Blancos’ plan inside out and suffocated them with their press, making them uncomfortable in midfield and creating chances with ease.
The result, needless to say, stands out as one of the black marks on Real Madrid’s result sheet so far this season and it will be the dressing room’s goal to bounce back tomorrow night.
Rayo Vallecano at Vallecas are a difficult opposition to take down, for their stadium is nothing short of a fortress. After all, Los Blancos have not won in their last three games at the venue.
With the international break beginning immediately after the game at Vallecas, a win for Real Madrid at the complicated venue would be the perfect way to sign off and bounce back – for there is no better time to jump back than before the dispersal for the break.
Key starter unavailable
Aurelien Tchouameni started and played 90 minutes for Real Madrid against Liverpool at Anfield, but the player will be unavailable for the game tomorrow after the club confirmed that he will be out through injury.
Having suffered a muscle injury, the midfielder is expected to be out for three weeks and Xabi Alonso thus has a task on his hands to manage the situation without weakening the side.
Tchouameni has been central to Real Madrid’s dominance this season, bringing stability in the middle of the park and even serving as an important defensive piece in the team’s buildup play.
While his absence will indeed be a big blow, all signs point to the manager laying his trust in Eduardo Camavinga to replace the Frenchman in the pivot position.
Camavinga only recently returned from a long-term injury and has moved closer to complete match-fitness with every passing game. He will play a massive role for the team over the next month, and tomorrow will mark the start of the same.
A big night for Trent
It was only poetic that Trent Alexander-Arnold made his long-awaited comeback from injury at Anfield against Liverpool – the club for which he dedicated his life before moving to Spain.
The reception the player received was hostile, and understandably so. Trent, however, was far from his best on the night and did not look anywhere close to his usual self in the period he spent on the field after coming on.
While the game against Liverpool can be dismissed as a one-off given that he was just returning from injury, there is a growing school of thought that the player does not understand that he is Real Madrid’s star signing.
The pressure on the Englishman, thus, is only increasing with every passing day and it is crucial that he begins to step up and deliver for his new club.
Dani Carvajal’s injury until 2026 means that Trent will see significant game time over the next two months, and the player could not have asked for a better situation to guarantee continuity in the team.
All eyes, however, will be on him starting tomorrow when he is expected to return to the initial XI. After all, he has a lot to prove in terms of his quality and adaptation.
Real Madrid made a mess of their game against Elche last night, and it is clear that the men in white have several flaws with no answers at the moment.
From being 2-0 up, the men in white bottled their lead and threw the game into jeopardy by permitting Elche to score two goals. The result, as many saw it, was set to end in a draw.
With some persistent attacks in the dying minutes, however, Real Madrid managed to build pressure on Elche and eventually scored one more goal at the death to take home the three points.
Needless to say, however, the negatives from the game far outweigh the positive news of the three points.
Madrid Universal brings you three takeaways from Elche 2-3 Real Madrid.
Another second-half collapse
After Real Madrid’s win over Rayo Vallecano at the weekend, Jose Mourinho stressed the fact that Real Madrid actually played only one half and that the fatigue began showing after the break.
On the night, the opposition began to enjoy more dominance and create chances after half-time as they outran and outpressed Los Blancos to good effect.
Last night was no different, and the second half went completely awry.
The men in white entered the half-time break cruising with a 2-0 lead and significant dominance over the proceedings. They had a massive xG, with Elche barely creating any chances of note.
After the break, however, the entire dynamic of the game changed as Real Madrid took a step back and handed the impetus to the hosts. Pressing high and attacking without fear, Elche dominated Real Madrid for most of the second half and had a staggering 60% of possession.
They scored twice – in the 71st and 83rd minutes – and equalised Real Madrid on the night. Given the visitors’ shambolic display, it was deserved for Elche.
At this point, the constant second-half collapses and fatigue struggles of the team after just 45 minutes of action must worry Jose Mourinho immensely. Heading into a derby away from home, Real Madrid have to do much better.
The away curse continues
While Real Madrid’s form at home has been imperious this season, their form away from home has been equally shocking.
They began their season with a last-minute win over Espanyol, and their second league game of the season on the road came against Real Betis and ended in defeat.
Heading into their third away game last night, there was an element of worry about how they would perform, and the trend continued once more.
Real Madrid did well to take the lead on the night, but they made the second half a massive war and far more difficult than it should have been.
At this point, serious questions have to be raised about Real Madrid’s form on the road and their inability to keep games under control when playing in away stadiums.
Heading forward in the season, Los Blancos have some massive away games coming up against far more difficult opposition. The Madrid derby is up next, and the team’s form is nothing promising heading into that fixture.
Carlos Espi saves the day… again!
Real Madrid are currently on 15 points after six games in the league, but Carlos Espi has directly contributed to a massive chunk of that.
If not for the new Spanish striker’s ability to come up clutch in big moments, Real Madrid could well have been on just 11 points at this stage in the season, and the four points he has added are absolutely crucial.
Against Espanyol, it was Espi who scored a stoppage-time winner to hand Real Madrid all three points after a complicated match. Last night, he repeated the same heroics once more.
With the team staring at a draw, the new signing was at the right place at the right time to bury Kylian Mbappe’s assist in stoppage time, handing Real Madrid all three points at the death.
He may not have played a large part on the night, but his cameo was again powerful and it is clear that he elevates the team’s attack and provides new solutions in front of goal. Espi has already proven his talent, and his ability to perform under pressure is what makes him special.
