Hello! Welcome back to LaLiga matchday 5, where Real Madrid faces off Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabéu! This Madrid derby is set to be a test for both sides, with this fixture often being tough and callous on both ends. It makes for a very exciting watch at 8pm BST today. Both sides are riddled with injuries and suspensions, with Rayo Vallecano having players like Isi Palazón and Augusto Batalla out, and Real Madrid having Eder Militao and Rodrygo out due to injuries. Real Madrid walk into this following a very tense, close and end to end win vs Inter Milan, and before that week a very stressful loss to Real Betis away in Seville. Madrid would like to walk into this Rayo game capitalizing on points to try and catch up with league leaders Barcelona. Rayo Vallecano walk into this fixture with a close win over newly promoted Racing Santander, winning 3-2, with a brace by LaLiga hotshot Sergio Camello. Rayo Vallecano walk into this away fixture hoping to surprise, get a win, and move up the table. Real Madrid’s LaLiga season has been categorized as slowly returning back to previous form, after 2 trophyless seasons. Jose Mourinho was employed as the new manager in the summer, along with a decent window bringing in the likes of Ibrahima Konate and Marc Cucurella to bolster the defense. Wins vs Espanyol away, Real Sociedad and Málaga opened Real Madrid’s season until the tough loss to Betis away in Seville. Rayo Vallecano haven’t been able to share the same form in LaLiga, with 1 win, 1 draw and 2 losses this season. Opening the season with a 2-1 loss to Sevilla, they then drew the next week to Deportivo 1-1. They then went up to Camp Nou to face a in form and huge attacking threat Barcelona, losing 5-2 following two Camello goals in the game. Last week marks their first win in LaLiga coming vs Racing Santander. Rayo vs Madrid is a fixture that tends to be tough for both sides, even if Madrid has a way bigger advantage in the head to head. Both games often see a bit end to end football or a low block that is tough to break on Madrid’s end. Mourinho would want to be cautious with the likes of Camello returning back to consistent form towards a defense that can be very shaky, as seen vs Inter. Players to watch on the Real Madrid end include Jude Bellingham, who this LaLiga season has been on fire, returning back to his 10/false 9 position. Jude has 4 goals and assists in 4 games, registering a g/a vs Malaga, Real Sociedad and Espanyol. Players to watch on the Rayo Vallecano end include Sergio Camello, who, like Jude, has also been on fire this LaLiga season. He has 6 goals and assists in 4 games, contributing to every single goal to get Rayo the win vs Racing Santander. He also scored a brace vs Barcelona away at the Camp Nou.