Real Madrid Vs Rayo Vallecano, La Liga: Last-Gasp Mbappe Penalty Seals 2-1 Win Against 9-Man Visitors – In Pics

In an eventful Spanish La Liga 2025-26 fixture at Santiago Bernabeu, hosts Real Madrid sealed a hard-fought 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday (February 1, 2026). Amid jeers from Los Blancos fans, Vinicius Junior opened the scoring with a 15th-minute goal, five minutes after Jude Bellingham was replaced due to an injury. Coming off a 2-4 defeat at Benfica, they needed a stoppage-time penalty conversion from an otherwise lacklustre Kylian Mbappe to pocket all three points. For the visitors, Jorge de Frutos scored the lone goal in the 49th minute, then lost both Pathe Cisse and Pep Chavarria to send-offs towards the closing stages of the match. The result helped Madrid back within a point of league leader Barcelona (55), while Vallecano are just above the relegation zone with 22, one more than 18th-placed Mallorca. Next, Alvaro Arbeloa's men will play Valencia in an away fixture, and Vallecano host Real Oviedo.

Updated on: 2 February 2026 2:35 pm

Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz, second right, reacts during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain. | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez

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Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain. | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez

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La Liga Soccer Match: Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, left, tries a shot during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain. | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez

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La Liga Soccer Match: Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, left, argues with Rayo's Luiz Felipe during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain. | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez

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Spain Soccer La Liga: Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano

Real Madrid's Franco Mastantuono controls the ball during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain. | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez

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Spain Soccer La Liga: Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, center left, heads for the ball during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain. | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez

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La Liga 2025-26: Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano

Real Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saves a ball during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain. | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez

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La Liga 2025-26: Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, vies for the ball with Rayo's Nobel Mendy during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain. | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez

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Spain La Liga Soccer Match: Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior scores his side's first goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain. | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez

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Spain La Liga Soccer Match: Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid

Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham lies on the pitch injured during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain. | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez