Mbappe, Vinicius Shine As Real Madrid Edge Closer To Top With 2-1 Win Over Rayo Vallecano

Real Madrid eased past Rayo Vallecano with a 2-1 win at the Bernabeu, drawing level at the top of LaLiga in a fiercely contested title race. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the 30th minute, finishing off a swift counterattack, before Vinícius Júnior doubled the lead with a brilliant solo effort just four minutes later. The Brazilian nearly added another, striking the post from distance. Rayo clawed one back in first-half stoppage time through Pedro Díaz’s stunning effort, confirmed by VAR after bouncing off the crossbar and over the line. Despite Rayo’s resilience in the second half, Madrid managed their lead comfortably, even with several key players rested ahead of their Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid. With Barcelona leading the table on goal difference and Atletico just a point behind, the LaLiga title race remains wide open.

Photo Webdesk

Updated on: 10 March 2025 12:59 pm

La Liga: Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates with Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez after scoring his side's second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain

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La Liga: Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez

Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez, left, controls the ball ahead Rayo's Pep Chavarria during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain.

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La Liga Soccer Match: Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid

La Liga Soccer Match: Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti, right, and Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe greet each other during a substitution at the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain.

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La Liga Soccer Match: Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano

La Liga Soccer Match: Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, right, in action against Rayo's goalkeeper Augusto Batalla during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain.

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Spain Soccer La Liga: Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid

Spain Soccer La Liga: Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, left, challenges for the ball with Rayo's Alfonso Espino during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain.

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Spanish La Liga soccer: Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid

Spanish La Liga soccer: Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain.

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Spanish La Liga soccer: Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez

Real Madrid's Fran Garcia, centre, challenges for the ball with Rayo's Oscar Valentin during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain.

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Spanish La Liga soccer: Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano

Spanish La Liga soccer: Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, right, challenges for the ball with Rayo's Sergio Camello during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain.

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Spanish La Liga soccer Match: Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid

Spanish La Liga soccer Match: Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez

Rayo's Andrei Ratiu, left, challenges for the ball with Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain.

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Spanish La Liga soccer Match: Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano

Spanish La Liga soccer Match: Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid | Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez

Rayo's goalkeeper Augusto Batalla, left, and Rayo's Florian Lejeune in action during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain.