Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior both scored in five minutes while Real Madrid won 2-1 at home from Rayo Vallecano to La Liga on Sunday – but Jude Bellingham was replaced by an injury problem when he returned.
The top scorer Mbappe entered the box on the left and fled from an acute angle to open the scoring in style in the 30th minute with his 28th goal of the season in all competitions.
Vinicius Junior then struck from the inside of the penalty surface over the four left minutes later after a remarkable race which saw the international head of Brazil towards the corner flag before turning to load inside and find the back of the net with a flash of leg play.
England striker Jude Bellingham was available after Madrid’s suspension and started, to be replaced late and having ice cream for his calf.
Kylian Mbappé with the opening of Real Madrid against Rayo! ⚪
A beautiful finish in the lower corner of French 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/n6bcfkksv
– First sports (@premsportstv) March 9, 2025
Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano
The defeat of last Saturday in Real Betis meant that the reigning champions began on Sunday in third, two points behind Atleti and three leaders Barcelona.
They almost went forward earlier when Vinicius Junior shot against the woodwork, but Vallecano had more attempts when the seventh place team asked for a 10th victory in the season.
Vallecano had taken points of five of the last eight meetings between the teams and knew that they would go sixthly in the table Above Betis if they caused an upheaval.
Just when Madrid fans have considered a comfortable advance at halftime, Pedro Diaz responded with his first Vallecano goal when the midfielder finished a smooth movement of good inside their half by curling via the transverse bar from a central position by the box.
The two teams wore black armbands And a minute of silence took place before kick -off in memory of the doctor of the first team of Barcelona, Carles Minarro, who died on Saturday, and referee David Garcia de la Loma, who died on Tuesday after a long illness.
It’s brilliant from Vini Jr! 😍
A deviation may have helped him at the finish, but it was all Vinicius to turn Rayo’s defense upside down before 🙌 pic.twitter.com/sov4geistx
– First sports (@premsportstv) March 9, 2025
Bellingham back for Madrid
In addition to Bellingham, Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti also brought Luka Modric as Captain and Andriy Lunin, David Alaba, Lucas Vazquez and Fran Garcia after Madrid’s victory after Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Competition holders won 2-1 at home in the round of 16 thanks to a 55th minute strike by Brahim Diaz, with the return match on Wednesday (8 p.m. GMT).
Vallecano was without right ban Jorge de Frutos and faced a large list of injuries, including the Tomas Raul striker.
