Real Madrid secured a tense 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, moving back within a point of La Liga leaders Barcelona.
While the three points were vital for Alvaro Arbeloa’s side, the win was overshadowed by a distressing injury to Jude Bellingham, who left the pitch in tears during the opening minutes.
Kylian Mbappé eventually proved to be the hero, converting a penalty deep into stoppage time to rescue an unconvincing Madrid performance.
The home side struggled for rhythm early on and were dealt a major blow just ten minutes in when Bellingham pulled up with a hamstring issue.
Despite the setback, Vinicius Jr broke the deadlock with a trademark curling strike into the top corner.
However, Madrid’s defensive frailties were exposed after the break when Jorge de Frutos leveled for the visitors.
It took a 98th-minute penalty, awarded after Nobel Mendy fouled Brahim Díaz, for Mbappé to secure the win against a Rayo side that finished with nine men following red cards for Pathe Ciss and Pep Chavarría.
Player Ratings
Thibaut Courtois (6/10):
The Belgian shot-stopper was reliable when called upon, making a crucial one-on-one save to prevent Rayo from taking the lead in the second half. He could do little to stop De Frutos’ close-range equalizer.
Federico Valverde (7/10):
Occupying the right-back role, Valverde provided much-needed energy and defensive cover. His recovery pace was vital in stopping a certain Rayo goal during a shaky first-half period for the hosts.
Raul Asencio (6/10):
The youngster put in a stable performance during the opening 45 minutes. He was substituted at halftime as Arbeloa looked to adjust the tactical shape of the defense.
Dean Huijsen (6/10):
While he was occasionally sloppy in possession, Huijsen was physically dominant in the air. He handled most one-on-one situations well but lacked composure when playing out from the back.
Eduardo Camavinga (7/10):
Deployed at left-back, Camavinga was one of Madrid’s more proactive players. He nearly scored a late winner himself, seeing a powerful header strike the woodwork in the dying stages.
Aurelien Tchouameni (6/10):
It was a game of two halves for the Frenchman. He looked composed in midfield early on but struggled after dropping into the backline, where he was caught flat-footed for the Rayo goal.
Arda Guler (7/10):
The Turkish international was a creative spark in a largely stagnant midfield. His vision and set-piece delivery were dangerous, creating several opportunities that his teammates failed to convert.
Jude Bellingham (N/A):
The England star’s afternoon lasted only ten minutes before a non-contact hamstring injury forced him off. His emotional exit is a massive concern for Madrid’s upcoming Champions League fixtures.
Franco Mastantuono (5/10):
The young attacker struggled to leave a mark on the game. Despite showing plenty of industry and running, he failed to provide any real threat or final product before being subbed.
Kylian Mbappé (6/10):
It was a frustrating day for the superstar, who missed a glaring opportunity by hitting the crossbar with an open goal. However, he kept his nerve to bury the decisive 98th-minute penalty.
Vinicius Jr (7/10):
Vinicius was the most dangerous outlet for Los Blancos, opening the scoring with a brilliant individual effort. He remained a constant threat on the wing, even as the team’s overall level dipped.
Substitutes
Brahim Diaz (8/10):
Came off the bench to replace Jude Bellingham earlier and was the real star of the show for the host. Diaz assisted the opener and won a late penalty for the winner.
Dani Ceballos (7/10):
Subbed on after the break as Aurélien Tchouameni moved into the back four. Help Real Madrid control the tempo of the game.