Real Madrid took all three points thanks to Kylian Mbappe’s calm penalty in the 100th minute, giving them a dramatic 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano side that finished with nine players at the Santiago Bernabéu in Sunday’s La Liga match.
Gatekeepers News reports that this result cut Barcelona’s lead at the top of the table to just one point, keeping the title race very close.
Vinicius Junior put Madrid ahead in the 15th minute with a strong finish after good build-up play from his teammates, but the joy was mixed with concern when midfielder Jude Bellingham limped off early with a suspected hamstring injury.
Rayo, who are fighting to avoid relegation, showed great spirit and equalised soon after half-time through Jorge de Frutos, who reacted quickest to a headed pass inside the box.
The game was tense throughout, with Rayo playing very defensively and physically. Their troubles grew worse late on when midfielder Pathe Ciss was sent off for a heavy challenge, leaving his team with ten men. Shortly after, Pep Chavarria was also dismissed for a second booking, reducing Rayo to nine players and giving Madrid a numerical advantage.
In added time, Brahim Diaz was fouled in the box by Nobel Mendy, and Mbappé stepped up for the penalty. He stayed composed and rolled the ball into the net, sparking relief and celebration as Madrid snatched the victory in the final moments.
The win was Mbappé’s 22nd La Liga goal of the season and came after a match where Madrid struggled to finish chances and saw the home crowd voicing frustration at times.
The result keeps Real Madrid close to Barcelona in the league standings and shows their resilience under pressure, even when they are not at their best and face intense defending from opponents.
