Real Sociedad may be the surprise LaLiga leaders, but Real Madrid are close to full strength and can begin to steal a march on their rivals this weekend when they face Rayo Vallecano, with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid still underperforming.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are one point behind Sociedad but have a game in hand. Real Madrid are also eight points ahead of old foes Barca, who are yet to announce a permanent successor to sacked coach Ronald Koeman.
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Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr. have been in great form this season for Madrid and forwards Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale are also close to returning to match fitness after lengthy injury layoffs.
That gives Ancelotti a welcome selection headache ahead of Saturday’s match at the Bernabeu.
“Hazard is ready to play, we will see how Bale trains before the game. All players that are not playing need to have faith and work hard,” Ancelotti said after Real’s 2-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Hazard and Bale will have a hard time trying to displace Vinicius Jr. in the starting line-up as the Brazilian, who assisted Benzema twice on Wednesday, has seven goals and three assists in 11 LaLiga games, only two goals behind the Frenchman in the scoring charts.
Real’s city rivals Atletico fell flat in their European encounter this week, losing 2-0 to Liverpool, though it could have been more devastating. On Sunday they travel to Valencia, who snapped a seven-game winless run in their last match against Villarreal.
