Rayo Vallecano level with Real Madrid but down to 10 men in La Liga
Pathe Cisse sent off for visitors after Jorge de Frutos equaliser
Vinicius Jr had given hosts first-half lead
Jude Bellingham replaced on 10 minutes after hamstring injury
Victory will move Álvaro Arbeloa's side back to within one point of leaders Barcelona
Real Madrid 1-1 Rayo Vallecano
Vallecano midfielder Pathe Ciss is shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Dani Ceballos.
Real Madrid will play the last nine minutes with an extra man - but will they make it count?
Real Madrid 1-1 Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano make a change
On: Alfonso Espino
Off: Alvaro Garcia
Real Madrid 1-1 Rayo Vallecano
On: Arda Guler and Dean Huijsen
Off: Rodrygo and David Alaba
Read Madrid 1-1 Rayo Vallecano
Elizabeth Conway
BBC Sport Spanish football reporter at the Bernabeu
As Real Madrid prepared to take the free-kick, Vinicius Jnr turned to the ultras, urging them to raise the volume and keep up their support.
He knows his side needs the Bernabeu behind them and here, the ultras set the tone.
Real Madrid 1-1 Rayo Vallecano
We're into the final 15 minutes, and it feels like either side could still win this.
Madrid are about to roll the dice for a final time with the introductions of Rodrygo and David Alaba.
Read Madrid 1-1 Rayo Vallecano
Elizabeth Conway
BBC Sport Spanish football reporter at the Bernabeu
Mbappe had the chance to give Real the lead and his shot hit the crossbar.
He turns to the Real Madrid fans, shakes his head and shrugs his shoulders as if to say, 'How has that not gone in!'
Real Madrid 1-1 Rayo Vallecano
Kylian Mbappe smashes the crossbar!
The Frenchman races past goalkeeper Augusto Batalla around 25 yards out and has the whole goal to aim at - but his effort cannons back off the woodwork.
End to end stuff at the Bernabeu!
Read Madrid 1-1 Rayo Vallecano
Elizabeth Conway
BBC Sport Spanish football reporter at the Bernabeu
You cannot believe Rayo have missed that opportunity.
Rayo's break gives Andrei a one on one chance with Courtois.
Courtois comes out and Andrei kicks the ball straight at him.
The Bernabeu explodes with boos and whistles. Real Madrid very nearly went 2-1 down to Rayo Vallecano. Yes, you read that correctly.
Courtois has kept Real Madrid in it.
Real Madrid 1-1 Rayo Vallecano
Huge save from Thibaut Courtois!
The Belgiun stands strong to deny Andrei Ratiu after Madrid were counter-attacked from a free-kick.
The defender probably had too much time to pick his spot!
Read Madrid 1-1 Rayo Vallecano
Big cheers for Gonzalo Garcia as he comes on to replace Mastantuono.
Some fans were whistling at Mastanuona, clearly not impressed with the Argentine's performance.
Real Madrid 1-1 Rayo Vallecano
Third change of the afternoon for Real Madrid:
On: Gonzalo Garcia
Off: Franco Mastantuono
Read Madrid 1-1 Rayo Vallecano
Elizabeth Conway
BBC Sport Spanish football reporter at the Bernabeu
Huge penalty call from Real Madrid as Vinicius Junior goes down in the box, right in front of the increasingly frustrated Real ultras.
The ref says no penalty, much to the dismay of the Bernabeu.
Image source, GettyReal Madrid 1-1 Rayo Vallecano
Just moments before Jorge de Frutos' equaliser, Kylian Mbappe thought he should have won a penalty for his side.
The Frenchman seemed to be pushed in the back by defender Andrei Ratiu after making his way into the box.
Read Madrid 1-1 Rayo Vallecano
Elizabeth Conway
BBC Sport Spanish football reporter at the Bernabeu
What a goal for Rayo!
They cannot believe it! Their small section of fans in the Bernabeu are jumping up and down in disbelief!
Whatever their manager, Inigo Perez, said in the dressing room at half-time has worked wonders.
They've started with the exact momentum Real needed to.
Image source, Getty
Jorge de Frutos
Rayo Vallecano have an equaliser! Jorge de Frutos bursts free from Aurelien Tchouameni to fire past Thibaut Courtois after a clever knockdown from Alvaro Garcia inside the box.
Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano have the first chance of the second half as Gerard Gumbau strikes one from range strange straight at Thibaut Courtois
Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
We're back underway for the second half.
Dani Ceballos replaced Raul Asencio during the break.
Elizabeth Conway
BBC Sport Spanish football reporter at the Bernabeu
Vinicius Junior’s goal in the 15th minute gave Real Madrid a huge surge of momentum.
They followed it with an excellent 15-minute spell, creating numerous chances as Rayo struggled to string any possession together.
The final 15 minutes of the first half slowed in tempo, though Brahim Díaz missed a golden opportunity to make it 2–0 against the visitors.
Los Blancos are whistled off at half-time.
The supporters want more - they're playing against a team that's 17th in La Liga and know the scoreline doesn't reflect it at the moment.
Let's see what the second-half has to offer...
Image source, Getty ImagesHT: Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
Vinicius Jr's sixth goal of the La Liga season is what separates the two sides at the break.
Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
Vallecano are afforded the opportunity to break after a slack pass from Dean Huijsen.
In the end, Real Madrid are let off the hook as the shot is blocked.
Kylian Mbappe scored a stoppage-time penalty to seal Real Madrid's win against nine-man Rayo Vallecano, after Jude Bellingham was forced off with injury.
Nobel Mendy's foul on Brahim Diaz in the 100th minute gave Mbappe the chance to put Real to within one point of Barcelona in the La Liga title race.
Vinicius Jr had opened the scoring for Real early on, a few minutes after Bellingham went off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Rayo Vallecano fought back, and levelled just after the break through Jorge de Frutos.
Mbappe and Eduardo Camavinga hit the woodwork for Real, while Vallecano were reduced to 10 men with 10 minutes of normal time to go when Pathe Cisse was shown a straight red card for a crude challenge on Dani Cebellos.
The home fans had been agitated at times before Mbappe scored from the spot, and there was time for more drama when Pep Chavarria was shown a second yellow card and dismissed in the 103rd minute.
Jude Bellingham pulled up and was replaced by Brahim Diaz
Bellingham was distraught when he fell to the ground clutching the back of his left thigh after 10 minutes, but the England international was seen to be walking unaided shortly afterwards.
Vinicius Junior struck soon after Bellingham's exit, curling in a sublime shot after cutting in from the left flank but Real fans grew restless as Vallecano grew in confidence with Chavarria lashing a shot over the bar just before half-time.
De Frutos equalised with a clinical finish, sweeping in a knock-down from Alvaro Garcia with a first-time shot and Thibault Courtois stopped Vallecano taking the lead when he used his feet to save from Andrei Ratiu.
Mbappe seemed set to score when he went around Augusto Batalla after the Vallecano keeper had moved out of his penalty area, but the Real striker's shot hit the bar.
Cisse was shown the red card after he caught Cebello on the left ankle, and Real went close to taking the lead again when Camavinga's header struck the post.
Real's late pressure seemed to be for nothing until Mendy caught Diaz high up, giving Mbappe the chance to strike for his 22nd goal in La Liga.
Chavarria received his second yellow card, for a push on Rodrygo, just before full-time as Real claimed their sixth straight win in La Liga while Vallecano remained just one point and a place above the relegation zone.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 60 | 23 | 37 | 55 |
| |
| 22 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 47 | 18 | 29 | 54 |
| |
| 22 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 38 | 17 | 21 | 45 |
| |
| 21 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 39 | 23 | 16 | 42 |
| |
| 22 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 36 | 28 | 8 | 35 |
| |
6 Espanyol | 22 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 26 | 27 | -1 | 34 |
|
7 Celta Vigo | 22 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 29 | 23 | 6 | 33 |
|
| 22 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 28 |
| |
9 Osasuna | 22 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 26 | 27 | -1 | 26 |
|
10 Alavés | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 20 | 27 | -7 | 25 |
|
| 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 21 | 31 | -10 | 25 |
| |
12 Girona | 22 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 21 | 36 | -15 | 25 |
|
13 Elche | 22 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 30 | 32 | -2 | 24 |
|
| 21 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 28 | 33 | -5 | 24 |
| |
| 22 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 23 | 35 | -12 | 23 |
| |
| 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 27 | -11 | 23 |
| |
17 Rayo Vallecano | 22 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 18 | 30 | -12 | 22 |
|
18 Mallorca | 21 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 24 | 33 | -9 | 21 |
|
19 Levante | 21 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 24 | 34 | -10 | 18 |
|
20 Real Oviedo | 22 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 34 | -22 | 16 |
|
Manager: Álvaro Arbeloa
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
Manager: Iñigo Pérez
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Álvaro Arbeloa
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
Manager: Iñigo Pérez
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Spanish La Liga
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
