Real Madrid Keep Title Race Alive With Victory Over Rayo Vallecano.
Real Madrid moved level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga after securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano.
Two quickfire goals in the first half put Los Blancos in control at the Estadio de Vallecas. Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring with a well-placed shot into the bottom corner after cutting inside, before Vinicius Jr doubled the lead moments later with a similar finish, which took a slight deflection off Rayo defender Andrei Ratiu.
However, Rayo Vallecano responded just before the break, with Pedro Diaz firing a powerful strike off the crossbar to halve the deficit and score his first goal for the club.
Bellingham Returns, But Madrid Face a Tough Schedule
England midfielder Jude Bellingham returned to action after serving a two-match La Liga suspension but was forced off late in the game after an awkward fall, raising concerns over his fitness ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.
The victory means Real Madrid are now level on points with Barcelona, who remain top of the table due to a superior goal difference and still have a game in hand.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side now turn their attention to a crucial Champions League showdown, as they face city rivals Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday.
Atletico Madrid Miss Chance to Go Top
Earlier on Sunday, Atletico Madrid squandered an opportunity to move to the summit of La Liga, falling to a shock 2-1 defeat against Getafe.
Atleti had taken the lead through an Alexander Sorloth penalty but suffered a late collapse after Angel Correa was sent off in the 88th minute. Mauro Arambarri then struck twice in the closing moments to complete a dramatic turnaround for the hosts.
With the title race intensifying, Real Madrid’s latest win ensures the battle for La Liga supremacy remains finely poised, as they prepare for a decisive period in their season.