Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior both scored within five minutes when Real Madrid found a first half lead on Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Sunday, but the visitors answered before the break with the first goal of Pedro Diaz for the club.
Top scorer Mbappe entered the box on the left and brought in from an acute angle to open the score in style in the 30th minute with his 28th goal of the season in all competitions.
Vinicius Junior then hit four minutes later from the penalty area on the same side after a remarkable run that saw the international from Brazil to the corner flag before turning around to load inside and find the back of the net with a lightning screen of footwork.
Just when Madrid fans would have considered a comfortable resting party, midfielder Diaz completed a slick movement of well within half of Vallecano by curling through the bar from a central position on the edge of the box during added time.
Former Spain Youth International Diaz joined Los Franjirrojos last summer after leaving the French club Bordeaux.
Kylian Mbappé with the opener for Real Madrid against Rayo! ⚪
A nice finish in the bottom corner of the Frenchman 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/N6BCFKKSDV
– Premier Sports (@premsportstv) March 9, 2025
Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano
Last Saturday’s defeat at Real Betis meant that the ruling champions started on Sunday in third place, two points behind Athleti and three off -leaders Barcelona.
They continued almost before when Vinicius Junior sent a shot against the woodwork, but Vallecano had more attempts as the seventh -placed side sought a 10th competition win of the season.
Vallecano had taken points of five of the last eight meetings between the teams and knew that they would be sixth in the table above betis if they were upset.
Both teams wore black bracelets and a minute of silence was held before the kick-off in the memory of Barcelona First team Doctor Carles Minarro, who died on Saturday, and referee David Garcia de la Loma, who died on Tuesday after a long illness.
That is brilliant from Vini Jr! 😍
A deflection may have helped him at the finish, but it was all Vinicius to turn the Rayo defense inside out before that 🙌 pic.twitter.com/sov4geistx
– Premier Sports (@premsportstv) March 9, 2025
Bellingham back for Madrid
England -attacker Jude Bellingham was available after suspension for Madrid and started, with Luka Modric in midfield as a captain.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti also brought in Andriy Lunin, David Alaba, Lucas Vazquez and Fran Garcia after Madrid’s victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The match holders won 2-1 in the round of 16 first leg thanks to a 55th minute strike through Brahim Diaz, with the second stage on Wednesday (8 p.m. GMT).
Vallecano was Jorge de Frutos without forbidden right winger and were without different players due to injury, including forward Raul de Tomas.
