LaLiga

3 matchups that will decide Real Madrid at Rayo Vallecano on Matchday 17
13Dec By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

3 matchups that will decide Real Madrid at Rayo Vallecano on Matchday 17

After scoring a combined six goals against Girona and Atalanta in their last two games to score two vital victories and bounce back from a tough 2-1 loss at San Mames vs. Athletic Club, Real Madrid have another tough road trip on tap this weekend against Rayo Vallecano. Even though Rayo are in the bottom half of the LaLiga table, they pose a threat to any top side in the country and have some of the most recognizable names in the league in veterans Isi Palazon, Alvaro Garcia, and even center back Florian Lejeune. So before the match on Saturday night, let's break down the key matchups that will decide this rivalry encounter on Matchday 17 between the second-best team in the league and the 12th. LB Fran Garcia vs. RW Jorge de Frutos Jorge de Frutos is a really interesting player, an...
Read More
2024/25 LaLiga Matchday 17 score predictions for every game
13Dec By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

2024/25 LaLiga Matchday 17 score predictions for every game

After beating Girona 3-0 and watching Barcelona drop points to Real Betis, Real Madrid have a game in hand and are within three points of the top spot in LaLiga, completing a furious comeback after an embarrassing 4-0 loss to the Blaugrana in El Clasico. This weekend, local rivals Rayo Vallecano beckon with Real Madrid riding high offensively after putting up three goals against Serie A leaders Atalanta in Vinicius Junior's return from injury. Real Madrid lost Kylian Mbappe to injury along the way, but they should still like their chances of nabbing all three points on the road at the Vallecas, though we all know how tough Rayo can be. Rivals Barcelona are up against lowly Leganes to end the weekend and are also favored to land all three points, while Atletico Madrid are up agains...
Read More
3 Real Madrid players who must shine against Rayo Vallecano on Matchday 17
12Dec By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

3 Real Madrid players who must shine against Rayo Vallecano on Matchday 17

After losing 2-1 to Athletic Club, Real Madrid bounced back with a 3-0 win over Girona, and they followed that up with three more goals against Atalanta in the Champions League, winning their first game in the competition since Oct. 22 against Borussia Dortmund. So Real Madrid are riding a high coming into Saturday's LaLiga fixture against local rivals Rayo Vallecano at the Vallecas. Here are three players on Los Merengues who must shine in order for the Merengue club to snag all three points. LW Vinicius Junior Vinicius Junior is by far the most important player to watch on Real Madrid with Kylian Mbappe out injured and Rodrygo Goes starting in the middle, because as we saw against Atalanta with his goal and assist from out of nowhere, he is the one with the ability to make the diffe...
Read More
Real Madrid Predicted Starting XI vs. Rayo Vallecano for Matchday 17 of LaLiga
11Dec By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

Real Madrid Predicted Starting XI vs. Rayo Vallecano for Matchday 17 of LaLiga

After outlasting Atalanta 3-2 on Tuesday night in the latest battle between the reigning Champions League and Europa League winners, Real Madrid will have another stern test ahead of them this weekend in Rayo Vallecano. Although Real's local rivals sit just 12th in the LaLiga table, Rayo are an example of the idea that, on any given day, any team in LaLiga is capable of beating anyone else, including the top clubs. Real Madrid are within shouting distance of Barcelona at the top of the table after beating Girona 3-0, while the Blaugrana sputtered to a 2-2 draw against another decent mid-table side in Real Betis. Before Real Madrid travel to the Vallecas on Saturday to take on Rayo, let's take a look at how their starting lineup could look on Matchday 17 of LaLiga. GK Thibaut Cour...
Read More
Don’t be surprised if Frenkie de Jong breaks out under Hansi Flick
10Dec By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
LaLiga

Don’t be surprised if Frenkie de Jong breaks out under Hansi Flick

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has improved the team by leaps and bounds compared to where they were last year, and although Real Madrid have cut their lead at the top of the table after the Blaugrana dropped points in four recent matches, the Catalan giants remain in the driver's seat in LaLiga. Down the stretch of the regular season, Barcelona will need some key contributors to step up and give the club more options, especially if the injury bug bites again. One player to watch closely is center midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who is one of the highest-paid players on the team with wages approaching 20 million euros. That's significantly less than the eye-watering 37 million euros thrown around by the Spanish media last summer, but it is still a lot of money for a No. 8 who has only put...
Read More
How Real Madrid could soften the blow of losing Arda Guler
10Dec By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

How Real Madrid could soften the blow of losing Arda Guler

Real Madrid have one of the most talented prospects in world football in Arda Guler, who burst onto the scene in his first season as a Madridista with 6 goals in just 373 LaLiga minutes for the Merengues. Guler then made an even bigger name for himself with a stellar performance at Euro 2024 for Turkey, scoring a goal and two assists in the tournament with 1.6 key passes and 1.4 dribbles completed per game. Because of his excellent goal-scoring record in his first season with Real Madrid and his strong all-around playmaking performance at a major international tournament, Guler was supposed to take on an even bigger role in his second season in the Spanish capital. Instead, the teenage sensation has been given fewer opportunities than expected to the frustration of Guler himself, ...
Read More
Barcelona are about to get a star back from injury at the perfect time
8Dec By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
LaLiga

Barcelona are about to get a star back from injury at the perfect time

Barcelona have been sliding in recent weeks. First, it was a 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad before the November international fixtures. Then, the Blaugrana collapsed and dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo before suffering a shock loss to Las Palmas. This weekend, Barcelona dropped more points in LaLiga to put rivals Real Madrid, whom they embarrassed 4-0 last month, within striking distance of first place, drawing 2-2 to Real Betis. As Barcelona do their best to get back on the right track in what is now Hansi Flick's first real challenge as the club's new manager, they could be getting a key boost to their lineup. Barcelona will face Champions League Finalists Borussia Dortmund, who have struggles of their own this season with a less impressive new manager and are outside th...
Read More
3 biggest takeaways after Real Madrid shred Girona 3-0
8Dec By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

3 biggest takeaways after Real Madrid shred Girona 3-0

Real Madrid have been in a difficult period to start the 2024/25 season with a myriad of serious injuries, disappointing losses, and poor form from marquee signing Kylian Mbappe. But after falling 2-1 to Athletic Club at mid-week, Real Madrid made an important statement on the road against one of their 2023/24 title rivals, Girona, blowing out the Catalan side again by a scoreline of 3-0...without Vinicius Junior. In light of Barcelona dropping points to Real Betis, Real Madrid are now just two points behind the Blaugrana with a game in hand. Here are three key takeaways for the Merengues after their massive victory. Arda Guler needs to be a regular Carlo Ancelotti has been under pressure to give Turkish phenom Arda Guler more minutes this season, and the 19-year-old had a brillian...
Read More
5 stars who never should have joined Real Madrid
4Dec By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

5 stars who never should have joined Real Madrid

There has been heavy criticism of new Real Madrid signing Kylian Mbappe since his dream move to the Santiago Bernabeu, and although some have tried to label the move as a mistake already, the reality is that Mbappe hasn't been as poor as the media perception would have you think. Yes, he's had some awful performances, including against Barcelona and Liverpool in the Champions League, and it would be fair to assert that if he were not such a big superstar, he wouldn't even be starting for Real Madrid over other players. But Mbappe has been far from the only player underperforming at Real Madrid this season, and even at his worst, he is still one of the better forwards in LaLiga with 8 goals in 13 games and an impressive 2.7 dribbles completed per game. So while Mbappe has been a di...
Read More
2024/25 LaLiga Matchday 15 score predictions for every game
29Nov By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

2024/25 LaLiga Matchday 15 score predictions for every game

Do Las Palmas have it in them to hand Barcelona their third straight upset in LaLiga? How about Real Valladolid later on Saturday against Atletico Madrid? Will Real Madrid's woes continue in their derby matchup vs. scrappy Getafe? Which disappointing side will prevail, Real Betis or Real Sociedad? Will Girona get back into the Champions League discussion with a win over top-four side Villarreal? And can Sevilla continue their quiet climb up the table by upending underdog Champions League hopefuls Osasuna? There are so many exciting matchups in LaLiga yet again this weekend, so I'll do my best to preview and predict each of the games this weekend on Matchday 15. Mallorca vs. Valencia Friday night's LaLiga opener between Mallorca and Valencia should be a firecracker. Valencia may be occ...
Read More