Real Madrid set for tricky Rayo test at the Bernabéu

Setembro 11, 2026 lojamais44@gmail.com

By Filip Mishov

Mourinho’s task to fix Real’s lack of midfield control

Inter’s defensive errors made José Mourinho‘s life easier in midweek, as Real Madrid celebrated a narrow victory in the Champions League. Los Blancos are on a three-match winning streak across all competitions at home this season, averaging 3.3 goals per match in front of their own fans.

However, an area of concern for the Portuguese coach might be the lack of control in the middle of the pitch with Federico Valverde and co. retaining only 52.8% possession of the ball throughout the opening five matches of the campaign, and even the captain admitted that the star-studded squad failed to follow the coach’s instructions and “to keep the ball more” following their midweek win against the reigning Serie A champions.

Rayo Vallecano enjoyed a full week off to prepare for the trip across Spain’s capital city from their own base in the Vallecas suburb after securing a dramatic comeback win against Racing Santander and getting themselves out of the relegation zone. Beñat San José‘s squaddesperately needed a lift but Los Franjirrojos are still a work in progress under the newly appointed coach.

Last season’s Conference League runners-up boast the joint fourth-best attack (7 scored) and second-worst defence (based on 10 goals conceded) in LaLiga at the same time, which puts Rayo’s relatively poor start to the season into context.

Key players

Kylian Mbappé is already earning glowing praise with the Special One putting the France captain’s name alongside Ronaldo as one of the best players that he has ever coached – quotes that came after the prolific goalscorer entered the Champions League all-time Top 5 scoring list (71 goals) thanks to his strike against Inter. The 27-year-old scored has scored five goals in the opening five matches of the season, earning an average FotMob rating of 8.19, and it’s already shaping up to be another fruitful campaign for Madrid’s No. 10.

For Rayo, Sergio Camello is in the form of his life, as the Atlético Madrid academy product is currently the second-highest scorer in LaLiga with five goals scored after four rounds played, while no player possesses a better goals per 90 ratio (1.81) than him. The in-form striker scored a brace and noted an assist in Rayo’s win over Racing Santander last weekend, earning the Player of the Match award with a FotMob rating of 9.2, and his performances become even more impressive when one takes into account the fact that the 25-year-old started only three of the four opening matches.

Team news

Aurélien Tchouaméni came off the bench in midweek to make his first appearance of the season and Thiago Pitarch was involved in the matchday squad after recovering from injury, while Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler and Bernardo Silva were all suspended and will return to the fold for Saturday’s match.

Jorge de Frutos and Fran Pérez both got sent off in the previous match and will miss the trip to their Madrid neighbours, while Augusto Batalla, Jozhua Vertrouwd and Isi Palazón are injured. New signing Marash Kumbulla is back in first-team training and could be in line to make his debut.

Prediction

Real Madrid are unbeaten at the Bernabéu so far this season, but Rayo Vallecano pegged back the Whites at least once, home or away, in each of the past four seasons, and even though I expect José Mourinho’s squad to find a way and get the three points, I do not think it will be as straightforward as many might think.