Bueno's Rayo challenges James and Isco's Real Madrid

The seas have parted for for Carlo Ancelotti. When he was required to choose between James Rodríguez and Isco, Gareth Bale sustained an injury. The Welshman has a bruised left foot, the one that cost €90m. With things being like so, the Italian coach will not only be able to accommodate the players in question, but he will line his side up in Vallecas in the system that he prefers: 4-4-2.

Ancelotti publicly disclosed Bale’s discomfort in his pre-match press conference and took advantage of the occasion to announce a general plan of rests (including the BBC) that will not allow him to single anyone out until the trip to the Calderón, in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Then it’s most likely that another another sea (or perhaps even an ocean) will open its path for him.

It’s well-known that any new development is gratifying, and it should be noted that a midfield consisting of James, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Isco is something more than attractive. Its effectiveness has been proven in the past. With that quartet in the middle of the park, Madrid won 3-0 at Anfield, 1-0 at home to Liverpool, 3-1 against Barcelona and 4-0 at Granada. On Wednesday evening Rayo will be the ones to provide a test of its strength.

In principle, the match is likely to be entertaining, which is something. Paco Jémez’s Rayo fight to have the ball against all opponents, no matter how big they are, and with that style of play (admirable, romantic, brave and a tad suicidal) the team is on the verge of securing, for the first time in its history, a fifth successive year in the top flight (they are 13 points clear of the relegation zone).

Rayo’s formula is as simple as it is effective: Roberto Trashorras moves the team, Gael Kakuta contributes a dose of borrowed talent (he is on loan from Chelsea) and the surprising Alberto Bueno provides the goals (he already has 16 in La Liga).

Duel. Bueno will be the man to defend the honour of the homegrown strikers against the hurricane that is Cristiano, who has 36 goals in La Liga after striking five times on Sunday. If the Portuguese is always a threat, imagine what he can do when he is happy and lining up against the fourth-worst defence in the division (1.75 goals conceded per match). At midnight we’ll know a bit more.

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