The 22nd match-day of La Liga saw Real Madrid win an arduous fixture 2-1 against Rayo Vallecano. After losing 4-2 against Mourinho’s Benfica, Los Blancos were in desperate need of a victory, especially to keep their league ambitions alive against the Blaugrana. Mbappé’s clinical penalty in the 100th minute and a Rayo Vallecano side reduced to 9 men completely changed the fate of the match, allowing Real Madrid to partially redeem themselves after that painful 0-0 in the first leg, back when Xabi Alonso still reigned at Valdebebas. Even though Arbeloa’s team secured their spot in the table and won against Rayo—after drawing against the other Madrid team four times out of the last five fixtures—the tension at the Bernabéu was palpable throughout the entire match: neither the fans nor Mbappé seemed satisfied with the squad’s performance.
The team started with a 4-4-2 formation, featuring Güler and Mastantuono in the starting eleven, both of whom seem to be gaining more playing time under the new manager. Rayo Vallecano had their first chance in the fifth minute, as the Real Madrid defense left too much space. Less than ten minutes had passed when Jude was forced to leave the pitch due to a suspected muscle tear, and was replaced by Brahim Díaz. Fifteen minutes from the opening whistle, Los Blancos broke the deadlock: it was the substitute himself who found the space for a clinical pass to Vinícius Jr. The number 7 then took charge, and found the perfect finish into the top corner.
Initially, Los Blancos continued to push forward and the team looked to be in great form, reflecting their consistent run in the league where they have won their last five matches. However, after a more scintillating start, the tempo of the game dropped—at least for Real—while the visiting side seemed to gain more confidence on the pitch, dictating play with greater aggression. Three minutes before the end of the first half, Real missed a golden opportunity: Vinícius played the ball to Brahim, who, despite being in a good position, chose to look for an assist for Mbappé instead of shooting. Even though Real led as the first half came to a close, the Bernabéu did not seem pleased, and the whistles from the crowd were clearly audible.
Early in the second half, Vallecano equalized, taking advantage of Real Madrid’s defensive struggles and injury problems. At the 60th minute, Gonzalo replaced Mastantuono. The team needed Gonzalo’s scoring ability to break the deadlock. However, Real Madrid was struggling to find space against Vallecano’s defensive wall. The away team almost scored again on a dangerous counter-attack, but Courtois saved Los Blancos once more with a great performance (after the 7 saves against Benfica). Despite his great job, the fans in the stadium were frustrated and the atmosphere became tenser.
Real Madrid nearly took the lead through a cinematic move by Mbappé, who dribbled past Batalla but struck the crossbar. As the game opened up, Real lost focus, highlighted by a dangerous back-pass from Huijsen. To regain control, Arbeloa subbed on Alaba and Rodrygo, yet Vallecano continued to dominate the physical duels. The match turned in the final ten minutes when Ciss was sent off. While Vallecano tried to waste time—leading to bookings for Batalla and Vini—Real intensified their attack. Both Camavinga and Brahim came close, but the breakthrough finally arrived in the 98th minute, when Brahim won a penalty, and Mbappé clinically buried it into the bottom corner. In a chaotic finish, Chavarría was also sent off after pushing Rodrygo, leaving Vallecano with only nine men.
Real secured the 2-1 victory, but despite the three points, the performance suggests there is still significant room for improvement. Questions remain: are Los Blancos truly prepared for a rematch against Mourinho’s side in the play-offs?
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