Real Madrid will look to end a disappointing week on a high note when they welcome promoted neighbours Rayo Vallecano to the Bernabeu, with midfielder Jose Callejon insisting a three-point haul is paramount.

Madrid started the season with big-scoring wins over Real Zaragoza and Getafe but they have surprisingly slipped up twice since then, losing 1-0 at Levante last weekend and then being held to a goalless draw at Racing Santander in midweek.

Jose Mourinho's men now find themselves five points behind leaders Real Betis, and although it is still early days in the season, the nine-time European champions know they can ill afford to be dropping so many points as they seek to wrest the title off Barcelona.

Callejon said of the Racing result: "It was a draw that we didn't want, but we have high hopes and we are very conscious that this is just the start (of the season). And the important thing is not how you start, but how you finish.

"Now we are only thinking about Saturday's game and we will treat it like a final. We have to go out 100% to win at the Santiago Bernabeu, for us and for the fans.

"We will never give up. We cannot forget we are at Real Madrid and we always have to go out to win, to give it everything in every game to get the three points.

"We have to be aware that they are three vital points and that we have to go out to win.''

Callejon, who returned to Madrid from Espanyol this summer having previously come up through the youth ranks at the capital club, also dismissed any suggestion of problems in the changing room.

He said on his club's website: "Whoever says the Madrid dressing room is divided doesn't know how the dressing room is, doesn't know the people. In there we are a family, it's like a boat and we all know that we have to row in the same direction.''

Mourinho welcomes back midfielder Sami Khedira for the match following suspension after his red card against Levante, but Portugal trio Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho and Fabio Coentrao are all out injured, along with Turkey duo Hamit Altintop and Nuri Sahin.

Rayo have had a decent start since winning promotion back to the top flight, picking up five points from their opening three games before suffering their first defeat on Wednesday when they slumped to a 2-1 home loss to Levante.

Coach Jose Ramon Sandoval insists his side will look to take the attack to star-studded Madrid as they try to bounce back from that defeat, saying in AS: "The home defeat to Levante obliges us now to have beat Real Madrid, although it will not exactly be easy to do it, as we are facing a great opponent.

"If you go to the Bernabeu to try and hold out against them, that's when you lose. If you go out with the intention to win, it's true that you could also be defeated, but at least you will do it with your style of play and your ideas.

"I live to live, not to think that I'm going to die. The word death does not exist in my dictionary.

"To win at the Bernabeu is difficult, but not impossible and, of course, Rayo are going to try and do that, as in every game.''


Match

H♥A♥L♥A      M♥A♥D♥R♥I♥D

Goal. Rayo 1-0. Just 20 seconds gone.

whats happening to madrid,, ? a goal down already. lets wait for 90min anyway.

Make R.Madrid presido no worry, I go help dem hand-deliver "Special Nonsense" sack letter - F.O.C!

1 - 1

Gooooooal !!! thats the way to go !! expecting more .

2-1,, thats real !!

3-1, good. so good!!

3 - 2

4 - 2

Now 5 - 2

Real Madrid 5- Rayo 2

Ten man Real Madrid 6- Rayo 2.

Real gets red in every game now,
when they play barca they'll prob get 2 or 3.

this trend aint cool

Ten man Real Madrid 6- Rayo 2.

@Amblors. Because they are "Bandits" and nobody to plead their cause. Double standard in La liga. Rayo's player committed the same offence like that of Di Maria but no card was shown. No problem. Real is being tutored to be strong and courageous.

We are Real Madrid futball club.
Fifa's futball club of d century.
De biggest sportin institution in d world.
Coached by d best coach in d world.
Led by d most expensive player in d world.
Common,we av shame our critics
HALAMADRID,

Typical MADdrid fans, instead of you to reasoned that your Coach is breeding indiscpline players, you are finding fault with officiating. Real Madrid are not known with this type of indiscipline style of plays before MADrinho came in as Coach.

6-2
a win
and thats all that marrers.

hala madrid

Congrat guys. You need to do more.

Typical MADdrid fans, instead of you to reasoned that your Coach is breeding indiscpline players, you are finding fault with officiating. Real Madrid are not known with this type of indiscipline style of plays before MADrinho came in as Coach.

Right on point bro. I used to love Madrid, in the days of Zidane, Rodondo, Raul, etc. Then, madrid didn't exhibit the type of indiscipline now being witnessed under Mohrinho. I wonder what madrid fans want officials to do. To play blindness to Madrid rough tackles? I am yet to see any red card issued to madrid that they don't deserve.

^^^
as if you matter.
used to love madrid indeed or used to love trophy winning moments.

as if you matter.
used to love madrid indeed or used to love trophy winning moments.

If I don't matter, it doesn't matter for the reason that you don’t matter as well.

I loved trophy winning moments by a Madrid team that exhibited the type of football Barca is playing today. If that’s a source of consternation for you, so be it. Zero apologies!!!!!