Penalty can save Real Madrid from disgrace, but nothing could save them from whistles

Poor performances from Real Madrid and growing fan dissatisfaction continue. The victory was secured, but whistles rang out at halftime. In the end, when the players couldn’t get the job done, the referee offered a helping hand and delivered penalty for them. Mbappe used that and gave Real Madrid victory.

Real Madrid started the game with clear attacking intent and almost struck inside the opening two minutes, as Vinicius Junior burst into the box, beat Ratiu with ease and cut the ball back, only for Mendy to intervene and clear the danger. The Brazilian immediately tried to lift the Bernabeu crowd, signaling his hunger from the very first moments.

Rayo Vallecano responded quickly and nearly shocked the hosts in the fourth minute. Ilias Akhomach slipped neatly between Camavinga and Arda Guler and found space inside the area, but his left-footed effort flashed just wide of the post. It was a warning sign for Real’s back line.

A major setback followed in the seventh minute, when Jude Bellingham pulled up while chasing a loose ball. The English midfielder collapsed to the turf clutching his left hamstring and was forced to leave the pitch, receiving warm applause from the home supporters as he made his way off.

Vinicius ensured that the momentum stayed with Los Blancos. In the 15th minute, he produced a moment of pure brilliance, driving at Ratiu, feinting past him, cutting inside and curling an unstoppable shot into the top corner. It was a stunning goal and the perfect response to recent criticism.

Real Madrid continued to push forward, coming close again three minutes later. Arda Guler made a clever run into the box and tested Batalla with a precise left-footed strike toward the far post, but the Rayo goalkeeper reacted superbly. Vinicius pounced on the rebound but rushed his effort, sending it narrowly wide.

Kylian Mbappe also had his chance in the 22nd minute after a superb lofted pass from Valverde picked him out, but under pressure from Chavarria, the Frenchman failed to get a clean shot away.

Rayo were not without their moments, and in the 34th minute Alvaro Garcia tried his luck with a quick left-footed effort on the turn inside the area. Thibaut Courtois was equal to it, comfortably blocking a shot that lacked power.

Despite Real Madrid’s dominance, the half ended on a slightly uneasy note. Deep into stoppage time, sections of the Bernabeu voiced their frustration, booing the home side for slow and passive possession as the first half drew to a close.

The second half began with Rayo Vallecano showing intent, as early as the 47th minute Gumbau tested Thibaut Courtois with a powerful effort from around 20 meters, but the Belgian goalkeeper was alert and made the save.

Just two minutes later, the visitors stunned the Santiago Bernabeu. Gumbau delivered a precise ball toward Alvaro Garcia, who cleverly headed it down into the path of De Frutos. The winger reacted brilliantly, finishing past Courtois to level the score at 1–1 and silence the home crowd.

Real Madrid looked to respond quickly, and in the 58th minute Vinicius Junior came close after a fine delivery from Arda Guler. The Brazilian met the cross with a header, but the ball sailed over the bar.

Rayo then missed a golden opportunity to complete the turnaround in the 64th minute. Ratiu surged forward on the counterattack, carrying the ball nearly the length of the pitch before finding himself one-on-one with Courtois. Once again, the Belgian proved decisive, standing tall to deny the Rayo full-back and keep Madrid in the game.

Los Blancos were handed a huge chance of their own four minutes later. A costly mistake by the Rayo goalkeeper allowed Kylian Mbappe to pounce and round him, but instead of finishing into an empty net, the Frenchman struck the crossbar, letting a massive opportunity slip away.

The match took a dramatic turn in the 80th minute when Rayo Vallecano were reduced to ten men. Pathe Ciss was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Dani Ceballos. The Real Madrid midfielder tried his luck a minute later, but his effort flew narrowly wide of the post.

Madrid piled on the pressure in the closing stages, and in the 85th minute they were inches away from retaking the lead. Ceballos delivered a dangerous cross into the box, and Eduardo Camavinga rose highest to glance a header onto the post, leaving the home side frustrated as the ball rebounded away from goal.

Everything Rayo Vallecano’s players had worked for throughout the entire match collapsed in the eighth minute of stoppage time, when Mendy misjudged the ball and clipped Brahim Diaz, who went down in the box, prompting the referee to point to the penalty spot. Kylian Mbappe stepped up, placed the ball on the spot, and converted to secure the victory for Real Madrid.

At the end of the match, Rayo Vallecano were left with another player fewer — Chavarria pushed Rodrygo, and the referee showed the Vallecano player a second yellow card.

LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 22

Friday

Espanyol - Alaves 1-2 (1-1)

/Fernandez 15 - Blanco 27, Boye 71/

Saturday

Oviedo - Girona 1-0 (0-0)

/Chaira 74/

Osasuna - Villarreal 2-2 (2-1)

/Munoz 20, Budimir 45+2 - Moreno 17 pen, 70/

Levante - Atletico Madrid 0-0

Elche - Barcelona 1-3 (1-2)

/Rodriguez 29 - Yamal 4, Torres 40, Rashford 72/

Sunday

Real Madrid - Rayo Vallecano 2-1 (1-0)

/Vinicius 15, Mbappe 90+10 pen - De Frutos 49/

18.15: (1.90) Betis (3.60) Valencia (4.50)

20.30: (2.85) Getafe (2.95) Celta (2.85)

23.00: (2.35) Ath.Bilbao (3.35) Sociedad (3.35)

Monday

23.00: (2.40) Mallorca (3.20) Sevilla (3.10)

***odds are subject to change***