Rayo Vallecano vs. Real Madrid: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info

So let’s do it all again, shall we?

Just three days after La Liga’s trio of barely separable title rivals went at it one by one across a single evening, Saturday brings with it much the same affair. At 4 p.m. (local time), Real Madrid tackle Rayo Vallecano; at 6:15 p.m., Atletico Madrid host Malaga; at 8:30 p.m., Barcelona welcome Sporting Gijon. 

As sequences go, it’s massive. Again. 

On Wednesday, the league heavyweights entered a night that had a compelling feel to it due to the unusually congested kick-off times. Going in, the table read Barcelona 76 points, Atletico 76 and Madrid 75; the anticipation was for swings and drama, for goals at one site to change the equation at another. “The league in four hours,” said Sport. 

Instead, though, what followed was something more routine: Barcelona thrashed Deportivo La Coruna, 8-0, Atletico did their “thing” to beat Athletic Bilbao, 1-0, and Madrid continued their hot streak to defeat Villarreal, 3-0. 

As you were then, lads. 

For all three, the equation hasn’t really changed. Winning every game will almost certainly be necessary to lift the title, just now there’s one less left to win. That probably favours Barcelona as things stand, but in kicking off first on Saturday, Madrid have the opportunity to apply some pressure on their rivals and temporarily jump ahead. 

Straightforward against 16th-placed Rayo?

Not exactly. 

It’s often said at this time of year that you’re better off facing an opponent with little to play for than one fighting for their life, and that’s precisely what Rayo are doing.

Last weekend, after his side defeated high-flying Villarreal 2-1, manager Paco Jemez said “this could be 90 per cent of salvation,” per the Guardian’s Sid Lowe. Given that around them Getafe and Granada had lost and Sporting Gijon had drawn, it looked like a reasonable assessment. 

But things change rapidly at the bottom.

On Wednesday, Rayo saw Malaga pinch a 91st-minute equaliser right when they looked destined for a second straight win. A point wasn’t a bad result, but then …

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