MADRID - Rayo Vallecano have made a mockery of their financial woes and played some of the best football in La Liga this season to climb to sixth and can test their progress when they take on wealthy city rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Sunday.
SaturdayGetafe vs Celta Vigo 17:00 Malaga vs Athletic 19:00 Granada vs Barcelona 21:00 Osasuna vs R Zaragoza 23:00 SundayR Sociedad vs Levante 14:00 Valencia vs Mallorca 18:00 Valladolid vs Atletico 20:00 Real Madrid vs Rayo 22:00 Espanyol vs BetisMADRID - Rayo Vallecano have made a mockery of their financial woes and played some of the best football in La Liga this season to climb to sixth and can test their progress when they take on wealthy city rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Sunday.A thoroughly deserved 2-1 win at home to second-placed Atletico Madrid last weekend prompted talk of a realistic chance of a place in Europe next term and enhanced Rayo’s reputation as one of Spain’s "giant killers”.The modest club, whose 15 000-seater stadium has only three stands with one end used for advertising, are transformed from the side that were mired in the third-tier in Spanish football between 2004 and 2008.They narrowly avoided relegation last season after coming up from the second division but under the guidance of coach Paco Jemez and fired by the goals of captain Piti and fellow forward Leo Baptistao, they have become a genuine force, with wins at Valencia, Athletic Bilbao and Malaga."We are now in a situation where we only have to look forward,” Jemez told a news conference this week.They face a monumental task at champions Real, who are undefeated at the Bernabeu in all competitions this season but have suffered erratic form away from home and are four points behind Atletico and 16 behind leaders Barcelona.