Team News
Rayo Vallecano
La Liga's bottom side sit 7 points away from safety and their bid for an unlikely great escape will no doubt be dented by the absence of top scorer and talisman Raúl de Tomás. The striker, who has netted 14 league goals this season, is currently on loan from Real Madrid and is therefore ineligible to face his parent club on Sunday evening.
Defender Gorka Elustondo is a long-term absentee after rupturing his cruciate ligament in December, but other than that Rayo have no new injury concerns. On-loan Stoke City midfielder Giannelli Imbula is still recovering from a hand injury that he picked up weeks ago and is unlikely to take part.
April 27, 2019
Real Madrid
'Los Blancos' have been dealt a huge blow by the sudden injury of red-hot Karim Benzema, meaning it is not just Rayo who will be without their top scorer. The French striker, who has scored Real Madrid's last 8 goals, has suffered a hamstring injury and it will have to be another of Madrid's underperforming squad who step up in his absence - perhaps Bale will be deployed as a centre-forward, or Zidane may hand a rare start to peripheral figure Mariano.
Defenders Sergio Ramos and Álvaro Odrizola are both still out injured, so it is likely to be Nacho who starts next to the everpresent Raphael Varane at centre-back.
Vincius Jr is pushing for a comeback from injury and has returned to full training, but won't be involved in Vallecas tomorrow.
April 27, 2019
Managers' Thoughts
Jémez admits Rayo must win whilst accepting Real superiority
Manager Paco Jémez conceded that his side must win against Real, saying: "If we don't win tomorrow, things will become impossible".
He did, however, suggest that this game could be a turning point for his side in their thus-far futile quest for survival: "If we can win tomorrow, we can beat anybody. This is how we will convince ourselves that we can beat anybody and achieve what we want to".
April 27, 2019
Zidane calls for intensity and recognises Rayo's desperation
"If you want to put points on the board nowadays, you have to play with high intensity", suggested the French manager. "Of late, we've faced sides who have had a lot to play for. For example, Getafe the other night, and now Rayo, who are battling to stay up".
'Zizou' also recognised that the task won't be easy, saying: "We know just how motivated Rayo will be and they'll try and do their best. Judging by their games, they're a side that never give up and we'll have to be at our best if we're to get a good result".
April 27, 2019
Recent Form
Possible line-ups:
Rayo Vallecano: Garcia; Velazquez, Galvez, Amat; Embarba, Agbo, Kakuta, Suarez, Moreno; Di Santo, Guerra
Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Nacho, Varane, Marcelo; Modric, Kroos, Casemiro; Asensio, Bale, Brahim