Real Madrid will be aiming to bounce back from their disappointing 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League when they travel to face Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Sunday, with the champions looking to maintain their position at the summit of the Spanish top flight.Both sides will be searching for a positive result. Los Blancos look to reassert their dominance after a rare midweek setback, whilst Rayo will be hoping to upset the odds at home in front of their passionate Vallecas crowd.Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid – Match preview and team newsDate: Sunday, 9th November.Kick-off: 3:15pm BST.Venue: Estadio de Vallecas, Madrid.Rayo Vallecano team newsRayo Vallecano will be without key defensive players as they prepare for the visit of the league leaders. Abdul Mumin, the Ghana international centre-back, is sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury. Luiz Felipe is also a significant doubt after sustaining a hamstring injury in September, though he is nearing a return.Diego Mendez faces a late fitness test, though there will be tactical changes to the side that featured in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday night. Jorge de Frutos, Alemão, Pedro Diaz and Andrei Ratiu are among those set to be introduced into the XI.Despite their defensive injury concerns, Rayo have been performing admirably this season. Manager Iñigo Pérez was awarded La Liga Manager of the Month for October after guiding his side to three successive victories.Real Madrid team newsReal Madrid continues to grapple with an injury crisis in their defensive ranks. Dani Carvajal remains sidelined after undergoing surgery on a knee problem and will be absent until 2026. Antonio Rudiger is also unavailable due to a muscular issue sustained during the September international break.Aurélien Tchouaméni is expected to miss the fixture, with the midfielder suffering a muscular problem that could sideline him until the end of November. Franco Mastantuono is also unlikely to feature due to a groin problem.However, there is positive news regarding David Alaba. The Austrian centre-back, who has missed Real Madrid’s last four matches due to a calf injury, participated in a significant portion of group training on Friday and is expected to be included in the travelling squad for the trip to Vallecas, provided he completes Saturday’s final training session without setbacks.Federico Valverde has been cleared to play. The midfielder has no injury despite earlier concerns after his premature withdrawal from the Liverpool match. Trent Alexander-Arnold made his return from injury off the bench against Liverpool and could feature in the starting side, allowing Valverde to operate further forward.FormRayo VallecanoRayo have impressed in recent weeks, picking up three consecutive La Liga victories in October. Following their 1-0 win at Real Sociedad and emphatic 3-0 victory away to Levante, they secured another three points against Alavés. The club currently sit in 10th place in La Liga with 14 points from their opening 11 matches, compiling a record of four wins, two draws and five defeats.Real MadridReal Madrid’s form in La Liga remains exceptional despite the Champions League setback. The Spanish giants have recorded four consecutive league victories, overcoming Villarreal, Getafe, Barcelona and Valencia to establish a five-point lead at the top of the table. Xabi Alonso’s men will be looking to record a fifth straight win in the league. The leaders have only suffered one league defeat all season – a 5-2 reverse to Atletico Madrid on September 28th.Predicted lineupsRayo Vallecano: Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mendy, Chavarria; Ciss, Valentin, Diaz; De Frutos, Alemao, A Garcia.Real Madrid: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Guler, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius.How to watch Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid?In the UK, the match will be available live on Premier Sports 2. You can watch Premier Sports 2 through Sky, Virgin Media, or online via the Premier Sports website and app.Read Also – 5⃣ spicy fixtures you must watch this weekend See More – Aston Villa reach agreement with midfielder on new contractFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeThe post Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid – Match preview and team news first appeared on The Football Faithful.