On the 16th matchday Real Madrid will face Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabéu, and need to perform very well in front of their own fans.
A loss or even a draw for The Whites could maybe be fatal, because Rafa Benitez is still under fire and needs to boost the performance of the players. A match against the third from last could help a lot, but it can definitely be a tough hurdle, at which Real could fall.
Real Madrid need to perform
After the suprising 1-0 loss against Villarreal on the last matchday, Rafa Benitez and his team were under fire once again.
The Spanish coach got faith by Real's president Florentino Pérez, but the air grows thinner and thinner and Benitez has to perform with his players. The best bet is to do this in upcoming match against Rayo Vallecano, and thrash them.
So, a safe win over them would do Madrid good, but how can Benitez do this? A win over Vallecano at home at Santiago Bernabéu shouldn't be a problem, but the way how they go about a potential win could be stressful.
Real Madrid's players need to begin enjoying football again, and entertain the fans, so playing weak opposition might be the first step to it.
Real Madrid were flabbergasted when Soldado scored the winner for Villarreal (Photo source: Getty Images)
Rayo Vallecano need to get back to winning ways
Despite Rayo Vallecano's recent form, to spring a suprise against Real Madrid is not impossible and it is definitely the best time to grab some points from the Santiago Bernabéu.
After finishing a high 11th last season, they're without a win in four matches and need to get more points on the board desperately. With the loss against relegation battlers Malaga last week, it made for consecutive defeats after losing to Villarreal the week before.
It is clear that something has to change at the club and the players need to get some confidence back. Rayo and Real are both Madrilenians, but no one takes this derby so seriously, however it would definitely a suprise for all and especially for the Vallecano fans to get even one point at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Prediction
The odds are unsurprisingly on Real Madrid's side, but they are struggling at the moment and so give Vallecano a little chance for sprining a surprise.
But, to see it from another perspective: Real fumes with a rage and definitely want to get these three points at all cost. So, it is also imaginable that the players will give the guests no chance to play and goalkeeper Yoel Rodriguez might have an evening to forget.