Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano Review
Real Madrid has equalized their points with La Liga leaders Barcelona after a close 2-1 victory at home against Rayo Vallecano, achieving only their second win in six league matches (with two draws and two losses). Following Barcelona’s unfortunate postponement yesterday and Atlético Madrid’s defeat earlier in the day, Real Madrid was in a prime position to finish the weekend at the top of the table. After paying their respects before the match, Carlo Ancelotti’s team started strong, clearly focused on securing the win ahead of their significant Champions League match against Atlético Madrid later in the week.
Los Blancos nearly took the lead in the 15th minute when Rodrygo sprinted down the right side and passed the ball to the edge of the box, where Vinícius Júnior hit the post with his shot. The home team kept up the pressure and scored in the 30th minute when Kylian Mbappé was sent down the left side, capitalizing on a bounce to find the far corner with his shot.
Just minutes later, they doubled their lead with a display of individual skill. Vinícius picked up the ball on the left, maneuvered through Rayo defenders, and finished past Augusto Batalla. Mbappé had a chance to seal the game shortly after, but the Rayo goalkeeper made a save, allowing the visitors to reduce the deficit before halftime. After a quick one-two, Pedro Díaz struck a fantastic shot that hit the crossbar and crossed the line, leading to a lengthy VAR check that confirmed the goal.
After the restart, the dynamics of the game changed due to Rayo’s late first-half goal, leaving Madrid struggling to maintain the dominance they had at the beginning. Mbappé had a chance in the 55th minute but couldn’t replicate his first-half precision, sending his shot wide of the post. Following that attempt, both teams experienced a lull in offensive action. The next significant moment came in the last 15 minutes when Luka Modrić delivered a low cross that Vinícius attempted to convert, but his shot went just wide.
The second half was uneventful, with Madrid notably failing to register a shot on target and allowing Rayo to control majority of the possession. Although Rayo dominated the game, they couldn’t convert that into scoring opportunities. This result marks Ancelotti’s team’s fourth consecutive home win in all competitions, but now their focus shifts to their upcoming UCL match at the Metropolitano Stadium.
