Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano: Los Blancos Continue Winning Streak?

Real Madrid will welcome Rayo Vallecano to the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, September 13, with Jose Mourinho’s side looking to return to winning ways in La Liga after suffering their first defeat of the campaign against Real Betis.

Madrid were beaten 2-1 by Betis last weekend, but they responded positively in midweek by defeating Inter Milan 2-1 in the Champions League at the Bernabeu. Despite being without several midfielders because of suspensions, Los Blancos managed to secure another important victory. Mourinho will now want his team to carry that momentum back into domestic competition.

Rayo Vallecano, meanwhile, have endured a difficult opening to the season. They began with a 2-1 defeat to Sevilla, followed by a 1-1 draw against Alaves and a heavy 5-2 loss to Barcelona. They finally secured their first victory last weekend, beating Racing Santander in dramatic fashion.

Those results have left Rayo 14th in the table with four points from their first four matches. The visitors therefore face a major test at the Bernabeu, particularly against a Madrid side expected to have a stronger midfield at their disposal. Several players who were suspended in Europe should be available for the league fixture, although Federico Valverde is expected to retain his place in the middle of the pitch.

Madrid’s home record against Rayo is another reason for optimism. Los Blancos have won 34 of their 48 previous meetings with Rayo across all competitions, scoring 121 goals in the process. However, the fixture has not always been straightforward. Rayo have regularly managed to find the net when visiting the Spanish capital and have proved capable of frustrating Madrid even when they have been the underdogs.

Recent meetings illustrate that difficulty. Madrid have won only one of their last five encounters with Rayo, while the other four ended in draws. The visitors have therefore demonstrated that they can make life uncomfortable for the Spanish giants despite the disparity in squad quality.

For Mourinho, the challenge will be avoiding complacency while ensuring Madrid maintain the attacking intensity they showed against Inter. With their midfield options strengthened, Los Blancos should have greater control in possession and more freedom to push numbers forward.

Rayo, meanwhile, are likely to defend compactly and look for opportunities on the counterattack. Their ability to score against Madrid could give them a route into the game if the hosts fail to convert their chances early.

Head-to-Head: Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano

• February 1, 2026 — Real Madrid 2-1 Rayo Vallecano | La Liga
• November 9, 2025 — Rayo Vallecano 0-0 Real Madrid | La Liga
• March 9, 2025 — Real Madrid 2-1 Rayo Vallecano | La Liga
• December 14, 2024 — Rayo Vallecano 3-3 Real Madrid | La Liga
• February 18, 2024 — Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Real Madrid | La Liga

Predicted Lineups

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Thibaut Courtois; Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate, Dean Huijsen, Marc Cucurella; Aurelien Tchouameni, Fede Valverde; Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior; Kylian Mbappe

Head coach: Jose Mourinho

Rayo Vallecano (4-3-3): Augusto Batalla; Andrei Ratiu, Abdul Mumin, Florian Lejeune, Pep Chavarria; Oscar Valentin, Unai Lopez, Pedro Diaz; Giorgi Tsitaishvili, Alvaro Garcia, Sergio Camello

Head coach: Inigo Perez

Prediction

Real Madrid should have too much quality for Rayo, particularly with home advantage and a stronger midfield available for the league fixture.

Rayo are capable of scoring and could make the match competitive, but Madrid should eventually secure a comfortable victory and return to winning ways in La Liga.

Prediction: Real Madrid 3-1 Rayo Vallecano.