Mbappe’s penalty helps Real Madrid beat Rayo Vallecano and reduce Barcelona’s lead in La Liga

Kylian Mbappe kept his cool to save a 100-minute penalty as Real Madrid claimed a 2-1 victory over nine-man Rayo Vallecano in a spirited La Liga derby match on Sunday.

Los Blancos cut Barcelona’s lead to one point at the top of the table after the Spanish champions defeated Elche on Saturday.

Vinicius Junior scored early for Madrid after Jude Bellingham limped off with an apparent hamstring injury.

Jorge de Frutos drew Rayo level early in the second half as the Madrid fans showed their anger at their team, but following Pathe Ciss’ red card, Mbappé scored from the spot at the death.

Pep Chavarria was also sent off for 17th-place Rayo, who took a shaky Madrid to the wire before falling short.

READ ALSO | Jude Bellingham sustains an injury during the match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano La Liga

Following the hosts’ midweek defeat to Benfica that forced the Champions League play-off round to take place, the Santiago Bernabeu crowd was in a ruthless mood.

Arbeloa and Mbappé had begged the fans to support the team, but just as they did against Levante a fortnight ago, they whistled their own players.

Former Barcelona winger Ilias Akhomach shot narrowly wide early on; the atmosphere would have soured even further if his effort had gone inside Thibaut Courtois’ post.

Madrid suffered an early setback when England international Bellingham stopped holding the back of his thigh and went off in pain.

Vinicius fired the hosts ahead in the 15th minute, showing neat footwork just inside the area before firing high over Augusto Batalla and into the net.

Arda Guler came close to a second, with Batalla saving his effort and Vinicius turning the rebound wide.

Los Blancos were in the lead, but despite taking the lead, their fans were unhappy and the team whistled in at half-time.

Four minutes into the second half, Rayo leveled. Alvaro Garcia nodded a cross down for De Frutos, a former Madrid youth player, to reach and drill the ball home.

The visitor should have taken the lead after an hour when Andrei Ratiu drove through on goal with only Courtois to beat, but the Belgian shot-stopper made a brilliant save to deny him.

Mbappe came inches away from putting Madrid ahead when Batalla raced out of his goal, with the French striker putting the ball around him before hitting the crossbar from distance.

Rayo made things more difficult for themselves when midfielder Ciss was sent off for a nasty foul on Madrid’s Dani Ceballos.

Eduardo Camavinga headed against the post as Arbeloa’s side turned the screw before nine minutes of injury time were added.

With the clock ticking, Madrid were awarded a penalty when Nobel Mendy clumsily fouled Brahim Diaz, and La Liga’s top scorer Mbappe sent the penalty to take three points for his side.

Rayo finished the match with nine men after Chavarria received a second yellow card for pushing Rodrygo Goes.

Published on February 1, 2026