Real Madrid Keep Pressure on LaLiga Leaders with 2-1 Win Over Rayo Vallecano
Real Madrid maintained their pursuit of LaLiga leaders Barcelona with a decisive 2-1 home victory over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday. First-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr ensured a comfortable win for the hosts, drawing them level on points with Barcelona at the top of the table in a fiercely competitive title race.
Spain’s three biggest clubs are now separated by just one point in one of the closest battles for the LaLiga crown in recent years. Barcelona leads with 57 points, ahead of Real Madrid on goal difference, while Atletico Madrid sit third with 56 points after suffering a 2-1 defeat at Getafe earlier in the day. Barcelona, who will face Atletico next weekend, have a game in hand after their Saturday match against Osasuna was postponed due to the sudden passing of their team doctor.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti opted to rest several key players, including goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defender Antonio Rudiger, ahead of their Champions League last-16 second-leg clash against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. Despite the rotation, Real dominated from the start at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
They took control with two quick goals: Mbappe opened the scoring in the 30th minute with a well-executed counterattack, and Vinicius extended the lead four minutes later with a brilliant individual effort. Vinicius nearly added a third, but his shot from just outside the box struck the post.
Rayo Vallecano reduced the deficit in first-half stoppage time with a stunning strike from Pedro Diaz on the edge of the area. His shot hit the crossbar, crossed the goal line, and bounced out, with VAR overturning the referee’s initial decision to award the goal.
After the break, Real managed their lead effectively against a determined Rayo side. Despite creating several chances, Rayo lacked the clinical edge to seriously challenge the reigning LaLiga champions, and the match ended 2-1 in Real Madrid’s favor.
Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior scores his team’s second goal at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on March 9, 2025, in Madrid, Spain [Angel Martinez/Getty Images]
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