Rayo Vallecano will be without the services of a whole host of important players for Sunday's La Liga game against Real Madrid.
Raul de Tomas, Abdul Mumin, Randy Nteka, Isi Palazon, Sergio Camello, Unai Lopez and Jonathan Montiel are all out of the contest with fitness problems, while Jorge de Frutos remains unavailable for selection due to a suspension.
Head coach Inigo Perez will have to make at least two changes to the side that started the 1-1 draw with Sevilla last time out, as the injuries to Nteka and Mumin both occurred in the first half of that contest.
Due to the lack of options available in the final third of the field, it is likely that Sergi Guardiola will operate at the tip of the attack, with Oscar Trejo receiving another start in the number 10 position.
Meanwhile, Aridane Hernandez is the favourite to replace Mumin in the middle of the defence.
The rest of the side could be unchanged from the Sevilla draw, with Adri Embarba and Alvaro Garcia likely to operate in the wide positions, while there should be a spot in the middle of midfield for Pedro Diaz.
Andrei Ratiu has been a standout performer for Rayo this season, and the 26-year-old is set to continue at right-back.
Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup: Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Hernandez, Chavarria; Diaz, Cisse; Embarba, Trejo, A Garcia; Guardiola
> Click here to see how Real Madrid could line up against Rayo
Matt Law
