Rayo head to the Bernabéu depleted: six players out and Balliu racing to recover

Rayo Vallecano will arrive at the Santiago Bernabéu with six players unavailable and a seventh facing a race against time. Iván Balliu has not been officially ruled out, but the defender is struggling with an ankle injury ahead of Saturday’s LaLiga derby against Real Madrid. Kick-off is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. CEST on 12 September.

Some reports have grouped Balliu with Rayo’s confirmed absentees, producing a list of seven missing players. The latest update from head coach Beñat San José, however, was more cautious: Balliu is doing everything possible to recover. At present, the accurate count is six definite absences and one major doubt.

BOTH RIGHT WINGERS SUSPENDED

Rayo’s most pressing problem is on the right wing. Jorge de Frutos has received a two-match suspension for protesting the red card shown to Fran Pérez, who must serve a one-game ban of his own.

Losing two players from the same position has left San José with very few natural alternatives. The coach openly admitted that his squad is down to the bare bones and said the suspensions had caused considerable damage to his plans.

Heorhii Tsitaishvili could be moved across to the right. Another potential solution would involve using Andrei Ratiu and Balliu together, although that option depends entirely on the Albanian international recovering from the ankle problem he sustained against Racing Santander.

FOUR MORE PLAYERS UNAVAILABLE

Augusto Batalla, Jozhua Vertrouwd, Isi Palazón and Randy Nteka complete the confirmed absentee list. Batalla is recovering from surgery on a fractured tibia, while Vertrouwd remains sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Isi is moving towards the final stage of his rehabilitation but is still combining physiotherapy with individual work on the pitch. Nteka became the latest casualty after suffering a muscular problem in training.

There is at least some positive news for Rayo. Marash Kumbulla has rejoined group training. San José said the defender’s condition would be assessed before a decision is made on whether to include him in the matchday squad.

MADRID RETURN HOME AFTER EUROPEAN WIN

Real Madrid enter the derby after opening their Champions League campaign with a 2–1 victory over Inter. Kylian Mbappé and Federico Valverde scored for José Mourinho’s side, who created enough opportunities to win by a wider margin.

Madrid also have fitness concerns of their own, with Ferland Mendy, Éder Militão and Rodrygo continuing their recovery programmes. Even so, the depth available to Mourinho leaves the hosts in a considerably stronger position than their visitors.

History offers Rayo little encouragement. They have won at the Bernabéu only once, in January 1996. Sergio Camello’s goals in the previous two league rounds and Unai López’s creativity provide a genuine threat, but the visitors will have to produce an exceptional performance with so many options removed from their squad.

San José acknowledged the scale of the task when he described Mourinho as one of the greatest coaches in football history. He also highlighted the presence of one of the game’s finest goalkeepers and strikers in the Madrid squad. With six Rayo players definitely absent and Balliu still doubtful, Real Madrid have a clear opportunity to build on their European victory.