Real Madrid are keeping pace with Barcelona in the La Liga title race, but a tricky game on the road beckons for Álvaro Arbeloa’s side at the Mestalla.
While Valencia are struggling down in 16th, Rayo Vallecano entered last week’s league clash at the Santiago Bernabéu in wretched form and almost escaped with a point. Madrid were outplayed for much of the second half while it was 11 vs. 11, but Pathe Ciss’s red card allowed the hosts to turn the screw, and their pressure eventually told in the 100th minute.
