The surprising and controversial 1:1 against Girona last round reopened the battle for the top, and tonight the champion Real Madrid tries to return to first place in an away game at Rayo Vallecano for a small derby of the Spanish capital.
The draw against the Catalans allowed Catalonia's top team, Barcelona, to rise to first place in the table on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Almeria in Gerard Pique's retirement game, and the gap from the Blancos now stands at two points.
In the injured section, Carlo Ancelotti is again missing Karim Benzema, about whom he said that he "still does not feel comfortable".
The Frenchman is also in doubt for Real's last game before the World Cup break, against Cadiz this coming Thursday.
The injured Antonio Rudiger and the suspended Toni Kroos will also be absent, but the one who returned to Real's midfield after two games is Orlain Tshuamani.
Also Federico Valverde and Luka Modric in midfield, while Vinicius is in attack along with Rodrigo and Marco Asensio.
On the other hand, Rayo Waicano comes with great momentum after two consecutive victories over teams that are below the red line - 1:5 at home against Cadiz and 0:1 away against the disappointing Sevilla.
Andoni Ireola's modest team is ranked ninth, and will be looking for a sensation to get closer to the fight for the tickets to Europe.
The last five games between the teams ended with a difference of one goal (four wins for Real, one for Rayo), but the meeting before that (in December 2015) ended in an unforgettable 2:10 to the Blancos, in which Rayo led 1:2 in the 12th minute but then Gareth Bale with four and Benzema with a hat trick exploded.
Real will return to the top?
Ancelotti (Photo: Reuters)
the progress of the game
Minute 5: Goal!
The host stunned the champion - Fran Garcia's cross reached Santi Comesania who kicked in Courtois's corner.
0:1 to Rayo and Yakno!
Minute 14: Rayo's opening pressure continued with Ader Militao losing the ball to Alvaro Garcia, but Courtois deflected the Spaniard's kick into the corner.
They beat the champion early on.
Komsenia celebrates (Photo: Reuters)
In the last round before the World Cup break, Real Madrid will host (Thursday, 22:30) Cadiz.
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