Real Madrid beat Rayo Vallecano 4-1 with Kylian Mbappe brace at the Bernabeu
Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Real Madrid defeated Rayo Vallecano 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday to move level on 12 points with LaLiga leaders Barcelona.
Early lead at the Santiago Bernabeu
Real Madrid secured a 4-1 home victory against Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga on Saturday, recovering from their previous weekend defeat against Real Betis. Jose Mourinho's team took control in the opening quarter of an hour by capitalizing on two defensive errors from Rayo Vallecano defender Florian Lejeune. In the 13th minute, Lejeune fouled Spanish defender Alvaro Carreras inside the penalty area to concede a spot-kick. Kylian Mbappe converted the penalty in the 14th minute to open the scoring, responding after his 93rd-minute penalty miss in Seville the previous week. Three minutes later, Lejeune committed a clearance mistake, allowing Mbappe to control the ball with his back to goal and set up Carreras, who scored from close range to double the advantage.
First-half dominance and Bellingham finish
Real Madrid encountered little resistance from their opponents through the remainder of the first half. Mbappe missed an opportunity to extend the score in the 25th minute before the home side added a third goal ten minutes later. In the 35th minute (11 minutes before the interval), Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior ran down the left flank and delivered a cutback pass into the penalty area. English midfielder Jude Bellingham met the ball with a right-footed finish into the bottom corner of the net to make it 3-0. Mbappe remained active in attack, hitting the goalpost in the 45th minute shortly before halftime.
- Florian Lejeune fouls Alvaro Carreras in the penalty area
- Kylian Mbappe scores from the penalty spot (1-0)
- Alvaro Carreras scores from a Kylian Mbappe assist (2-0)
- Jude Bellingham scores from a Vinicius Junior pass (3-0)
- Kylian Mbappe strikes the goalpost
- Sergio Camello scores for Rayo Vallecano (3-1)
- Kylian Mbappe scores on a counter-attack (4-1)
Rayo response and late counter-attack
Rayo Vallecano reduced the deficit six minutes into the second half following defensive lapses by the home side. Spanish forward Sergio Camello capitalized on sloppy Real Madrid play in the 51st minute to beat the goalkeeper and make the score 3-1. Whistles came from sections of the home crowd following the conceded goal, but Real Madrid kept Rayo at bay throughout the remainder of the contest. Mbappe missed additional chances in the 48th and 83rd minutes before scoring his second goal in stoppage time. In the 91st minute (90+1), Real Madrid broke on a fast counter-attack that allowed Mbappe to finish and seal the 4-1 victory.
League standings and title race
The result moves Real Madrid to 12 points, drawing them level with league leaders Barcelona. Real Madrid sit second on goal difference behind their rivals, who hold a game in hand and play away against Levante on Sunday at 16:15. For Mourinho's side, the Madrid derby win restores domestic momentum following the loss against Real Betis, driven by two goals from Mbappe alongside strikes from Carreras and Bellingham.
