Real Madrid Starting XI Prediction vs. Rayo Vallecano for LaLiga’s Matchday 26

LW Vinicius Jr.

If Vinicius Jr. is healthy, he is playing. With a full week of rest, Vini should be ready to go against Rayo Vallecano, and he has entered the realm of untouchables in the Real Madrid starting XI. While I would like to see Vini get more rest – we underestimate how much rest he needs, perhaps because he is young – and thus Eden Hazard get more minutes, the reality is that Vini is too important to rest.

And can you imagine Vini wanting to take minutes away from the pitch? We all know how passionate the forward is!

CF Karim Benzema

After another slow start to a match, there were worries that Karim Benzema was, once again, unnecessarily risked in a match without any substantial benefit to Los Blancos’ chances of winning. But in the end, Benzema was decisive, scoring a goal from the spot and assisting two goals, with his passes and final assist on the second goal being a particular highlight.

Benzema remains one of Real’s most important players, though that creates a conflict when we talk about Luka Jovic and his own lack of opportunities. While it would be nice to see Jovic start against Rayo Vallecano, realistically, that’s not going to happen.

RW Marco Asensio

For the fans who want to see another start for Gareth Bale, I am sorry. The cycle continues here. Marco Asensio nearly gifted the match to Alaves but immediately atoned for his mistake with an absolute stunner from outside the box, which is just classic Asensio.

That was another game in which Asensio did nothing for much of the match and then game alive all of a sudden. In addition to the goal, Asensio did a great job in the build-up to Real’s delightful second goal of the night.

So Asensio is very likely to start. Ancelotti trusts him, for better or for worse.