Spanish giants and La Liga title-chasers Real Madrid stuttered in their attempt to usurp control of the table after a frustrating 3-3 draw against local rivals Rayo Vallecano.
Scorers: López 4′, Mumin 36′, Palazón 64′; Valverde 39′, Bellingham 45′, Rodrygo 56′
With Carlo Ancelotti’s men capable of leapfrogging bitter rivals Barcelona at the top of the pile, his side got off on the wrong foot during a tricky away day at Vallecas, going 1-0 down in just the fourth minute after Unai López headed home at the back post to fire Los Franjirrojos into an early lead.
Rayo boss Iñigo Pérez was no doubt pleased with the performance throughout the first half despite surrendering the lion’s share of possession, with the home side looking dangerous on the break and creating more from less compared to Ancelotti’s troops.
A second headed goal would do even more damage to Real Madrid’s hopes on the night when Rayo extended their lead in the 37th minute after another effort at the back post, this time through centre-back Abdul Mumin from an out-swinging corner by Isaac Palazón.
The two-goal advantage latest mere minutes before Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde unleashed an absolute thunderbolt from long range to get the away side on the board, though perhaps it was more than they deserved on the balance of play.
And just before Rayo fans knew it, typical Real showed their teeth in stoppage time when the Spanish giants clawed back to level matters, with in-form Jude Bellingham heading home from close range.
Rodrygo, who had not been on the scoresheet for Real Madrid since the end of September, completed the comeback in the 56th minute with a well-struck effort from outside the box to beat Augusto Batalla.
Rayo were not done fighting on the night in front of home support, however, with the minnows drawing back level eight minutes later after Palazón got the slightest touch on an in-swinging ball from Florian Lejeune to beat Thibaut Courtois.
A late free-kick effort from the aforementioned Lejeune tested Courtois in the final seconds of action, with Rayo happy to take a point off Real Madrid as they sit in mid-table, while the visitors are now just a point off the pace at the top.
📸 PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU – AFP or licensors