Good afternoon everybody and welcome along to yet another MARCA in English live blog for Sunday's big LaLiga EA Sports fixture of Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid!
With Carlo Ancelotti's Los Blancos having taken firm control of the title race of late, they will be looking to tighten their grip on top spot as they come into Matchday 25 already with a five-point lead at the top over second-placed Girona.
Rayo, meanwhile, will be looking to increase the gap between themselves - sitting 15th with 24 points - and the relegation places, with Cadiz in 18th currently seven points behind.
Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid live: Latest text updates
Offside, Real Madrid. Aurélien Tchouaméni is caught offside.
Second Half ends, Rayo Vallecano 1, Real Madrid 1.
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Miguel Crespo (Rayo Vallecano).
Second yellow card to Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid). And so he's sent off! Real Madrid down to 10.
Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Kike Pérez (Rayo Vallecano).
Attempt saved. Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Toni Kroos.
Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sergio Camello (Rayo Vallecano).
Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card.
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Arda Güler (Real Madrid).
Miguel Crespo (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Arda Güler replaces Luka Modric.
Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sergio Camello (Rayo Vallecano).
Corner, Rayo Vallecano. Conceded by Aurélien Tchouaméni.
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Óscar Valentín (Rayo Vallecano).
Attempt missed. Fran García (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Luka Modric.
Substitution, Rayo Vallecano. Sergio Camello replaces Álvaro García.
Álvaro García (Rayo Vallecano) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, Rayo Vallecano. Radamel Falcao replaces Raúl de Tomás.
Raúl de Tomás (Rayo Vallecano) is shown the yellow card.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Florian Lejeune.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Stole Dimitrievski.
Attempt saved. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Foul by Miguel Crespo (Rayo Vallecano).
Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Fran García (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Raúl de Tomás (Rayo Vallecano).
Substitution, Real Madrid. Dani Carvajal replaces Lucas Vázquez.
Offside, Real Madrid. Fran García is caught offside.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Toni Kroos replaces Eduardo Camavinga.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Rodrygo replaces Brahim Díaz.
Foul by Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid).
Miguel Crespo (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Florian Lejeune.
Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Miguel Crespo (Rayo Vallecano).
Óscar Valentín (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Rayo Vallecano. Miguel Crespo replaces Óscar Trejo.
Substitution, Rayo Vallecano. Kike Pérez replaces Unai López.
Óscar Trejo (Rayo Vallecano) is shown the yellow card.
Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Óscar Trejo (Rayo Vallecano).
Attempt saved. Joselu (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved.
Substitution, Rayo Vallecano. Jorge de Frutos replaces Isi Palazón because of an injury.
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Óscar Valentín (Rayo Vallecano).
Foul by Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid).
Isi Palazón (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Luka Modric with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Florian Lejeune.
Attempt blocked. Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Álvaro García (Rayo Vallecano).
Attempt missed. Alfonso Espino (Rayo Vallecano) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a corner.
Corner, Rayo Vallecano. Conceded by Aurélien Tchouaméni.
Second Half begins Rayo Vallecano 1, Real Madrid 1.
First Half ends, Rayo Vallecano 1, Real Madrid 1.
Iván Balliu (Rayo Vallecano) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Iván Balliu (Rayo Vallecano).
Isi Palazón (Rayo Vallecano) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Isi Palazón (Rayo Vallecano).
Offside, Rayo Vallecano. Florian Lejeune is caught offside.
Corner, Rayo Vallecano. Conceded by Andriy Lunin.
Attempt saved. Álvaro García (Rayo Vallecano) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Óscar Valentín.
Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Unai López (Rayo Vallecano).
Offside, Real Madrid. Nacho is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Joselu (Real Madrid) header from very close range misses to the right. Assisted by Luka Modric with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Florian Lejeune.
Offside, Rayo Vallecano. Iván Balliu is caught offside.
Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) hits the left post with a right footed shot from outside the box following a corner.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Alfonso Espino.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Florian Lejeune (Rayo Vallecano).
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Aridane Hernández.
Attempt saved. Óscar Trejo (Rayo Vallecano) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Corner, Rayo Vallecano. Conceded by Eduardo Camavinga.
Attempt blocked. Álvaro García (Rayo Vallecano) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Goal! Rayo Vallecano 1, Real Madrid 1. Raúl de Tomás (Rayo Vallecano) converts the penalty with a right footed shot.
VAR Decision: Penalty Rayo Vallecano.
Penalty conceded by Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) with a hand ball in the penalty area.
Corner, Rayo Vallecano. Conceded by Lucas Vázquez.
Hand ball by Alfonso Espino (Rayo Vallecano).
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Iván Balliu.
Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Raúl de Tomás (Rayo Vallecano).
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Iván Balliu.
Offside, Rayo Vallecano. Álvaro García is caught offside.
Foul by Joselu (Real Madrid).
Óscar Trejo (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lucas Vázquez.
Offside, Rayo Vallecano. Raúl de Tomás is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Federico Valverde.
VAR Decision: Goal Rayo Vallecano 0-1 Real Madrid (Joselu).
Goal! Rayo Vallecano 0, Real Madrid 1. Joselu (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box following a fast break.
Offside, Real Madrid. Joselu is caught offside.
Foul by Óscar Trejo (Rayo Vallecano).
Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid).
Iván Balliu (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Iván Balliu.
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Rayo Vallecano XI confirmed
Real Madrid XI confirmed
Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid - Possible lineups
Rayo have been made to sweat over the fitness of both Pep Chavarria and Diego Mendez this week, with both having had late fitness checks to determine their availability.
Los Blancos, meanwhile, remain without Antonio Rudiger, Jude Bellingham, David Alaba, Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois. Brahim Diaz, though, has been passed fit after concerns arose in midweek.
Ferland Mendy is suspended, meaning Fran Garcia should start.
Rayo Vallecano predicted XI: Dimitrievski; Balliu, Mumin, Lejeune, Espino; Valentin, Ciss; Palazon, K Perez, A Garcia; Camello.
Real Madrid predicted XI: Lunin; Carvajal, Tchouameni, Nacho, F Garcia; Valverde, Kroos, Camavinga; Brahim; Rodrygo, Vinicius.
Where to watch Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid?
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, fans of Spanish football can watch Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid on LaLiga TV or on Viably. In Ireland as well, the game is on Premier Sports.
In the United States, meanwhile, you can watch Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid on ESPN Deportes or ESPN+ USA.
What time does Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid start?
Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid kicks off at 14:00 CET - local time in Spain, meaning fans based in the UK and Ireland will find the game starting at 13:00 GMT.
In the US, then, Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid starts as early as 08:00 ET / 05:00 PT.
Match ends, Rayo Vallecano 1, Real Madrid 1.