Hah, so the Athletic game being rescheduled to there happened exactly as I expected. Exact same fixture scheduled - and then re-scheduled - to the same part of the week on the calendar as happened last year. God was that game at San Mames last season frustrating. At least Athletic either seem to be trash or stretched thin this year so hopefully it's more winnable.
I enjoy hearing Gareth talk ball. Funny when he said that players who start and stop are wasting time and should be efficient. Brother not everyone has your gift. Lol
Really hope the squad can manage these injuries. Trent got to play now and give Ceballos minutes. Is Rudiger back soon?
👏 ¡Victoria en 9️⃣ Clásicos consecutivos! pic.twitter.com/4mMATqVJxV— Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) November 8, 2025
Rayo away won't be easy. Some are taking La Liga for granted already while complaining about CL prospects though we have had limited success in La Liga post 2008. 5 point lead isn't much especially with Camp Nou Clasico in 2nd half of the season. Let's keep beating the "small teams" to win the marathon that is league. CL depends on form during knockouts. Current champions PSG were struggling to qualify for knockouts this time last season and turned it around from January onwards while Pool had a dip in 2nd half of the season.
Rayo have only won once at home this season, their away form is actually better than at home. They've been criticized for awful field conditions and poor facilities for the teams, so maybe that has to do with it also. I'm fairly confident that this is an easy game.
They outplayed Barca though couldn't win due to missing sitters and always give us a tough time at home. I expect an intense performance from Rayo and we can't start slow.
Bodo Glimt or whoever they played against outplayed Barca. Their high line has been the circus defense this season. We've been miles more conservative and solid than Barca domestically.
Yeah, I have no idea how and why you could be confident that this will be an easy game (also looking at our (inconsistent) game so far this season). They have given us exceptionally difficult games, I believe we have 1 win in the last 4 games or so. Like you said; we need to start very well, put them under pressure immediately and hopefully score as soon as possible, in order to get them out of their box early (and counter them with Vini and Mbappe).
This place couldn't name a single Rayo player, insists the Premier League teams are overhyped, but Rayo is the real gut check. Comical. If we lose to Rayo we slide into crisis for good reason. This is a province club.
Look, if we're going to play your disingenuous game, then our squad is better than most if not all squads out there and we should be "confident" in the next game being an "easy game", every week. La Liga is already won, congrats everyone. But unfortunately for us context matters. But you know that as well — you're just still stuck in your feeling of unhappiness with how the club has been acting and presenting itself over the last few years.