In a gripping showdown at the Santiago Bernabéu, Kylian Mbappé struck a 100th-minute penalty to earn Real Madrid CF a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Sunday, keeping them just one point behind league leaders Barcelona in one of the season’s most dramatic encounters. The late winner underscored Real’s title ambitions and added another compelling chapter to Madrid’s campaign.
How the game played out
Real Madrid began the match with intent, but faced an early setback when influential midfielder Jude Bellingham was forced off with a suspected hamstring injury within the first ten minutes, leaving the home fans anxious. The hosts still managed the breakthrough in the 15th minute, when Vinícius Júnior danced past defenders and curled a precise shot beyond the Rayo goalkeeper, giving Real the lead.
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Rayo Vallecano responded after the break and stunned the home crowd through Jorge de Frutos, who calmly finished a build-up to level the score in the 49th minute. From that point the match became fiercely contested, with both sides generating chances but neither able to find a decisive edge during regulation time.
Late drama & the decisive penalty
As the game wore on, tension climbed. Rayo’s task was complicated when Pathé Ciss received a red card for a reckless challenge. Real pressed for a winner but time appeared to be running out.
In stoppage time, brilliance from Brahim Díaz saw him draw a clumsy challenge from Nobel Mendy inside the box, prompting the referee to point to the penalty spot. With the match poised on a knife’s edge, Mbappé stepped up and kept his cool to convert, driving his 22nd league goal of the season low into the bottom corner and sparking scenes of relief and jubilation.
The visitors ended the match with 9 players on the field as Pep Chavarría was also sent off in the 103rd minute of the match.
22 league goals for Mbappe
Mbappé’s penalty continues a prolific campaign in Spain, with the French star reaching 22 goals in La Liga: a tally that places him among the division’s most consistent scorers this season. His ability to deliver in pressure situations has been a defining narrative of Real’s run, especially as they navigate a congested schedule with domestic and European commitments.
What it means for the title fight
The dramatic late winner keeps Real Madrid firmly in the La Liga title race, moving to within one point of FC Barcelona at the top of the table with both teams having completed 22 matches. The result also provided a crucial morale boost following Real’s recent midweek Champions League setback at Benfica, where defensive lapses had been exposed.
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While the late winner brought elation, some supporters voiced frustration at periods of underwhelming play by Madrid, especially in the second half where Rayo’s equaliser exposed their defensive fragilities. Captain Fede Valverde later defended the team’s response, stressing that the victory showed character and unity in difficult moments.
For Rayo Vallecano, the result was a bitter blow, especially after battling back from early adversity and finishing with nine men. Manager Íñigo Pérez praised his players for their effort, insisting that his side had been competitive for large portions of the match against one of Spain’s traditional powerhouses.
