Real Madrid faced a dramatic 3-3 draw against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, missing an opportunity to leapfrog Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
Rayo Vallecano set an aggressive tone early, stunning the visitors with two headed goals from Unai López and Abdul Mumin, giving them a 2-0 lead by the 36th minute.
Federico Valverde pulled one back for Madrid with a powerful long-range shot, and just before halftime, Jude Bellingham equalized with a header from Rodrygo’s assist.
The momentum shifted in the second half when Rodrygo scored with a deflected shot in the 56th minute, putting Madrid ahead for the first time. However, Rayo’s Isi Palazón equalized again in the 64th minute, redirecting Florian Lejeune’s shot past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Madrid played without striker Kylian Mbappé, who is recovering from a left-thigh injury, while Vinícius Júnior came on as a second-half substitute. Vinícius’s best effort was thwarted by Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla. With this result, Madrid remains in second place, one point behind Barcelona.
Ancelotti Reflects on Defensive Lapses
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged that his team had defensive lapses, allowing López and Mumin to score from unmarked positions. Despite this, he expressed satisfaction with his team’s response, particularly given the absence of key defenders Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, and Ferland Mendy. He noted the team’s previous struggles against Rayo: “Last year we didn’t win here, we drew, and we won the league anyway. We are playing well and on the right path. So, we had a draw. We need to look toward the next games.”
As the reigning Champions League titleholders, Madrid will next travel to Qatar to compete in the Intercontinental Cup final against Mexican club Pachuca. “We have a great chance to win a title on Wednesday, which would put the cherry on top of a great year,” Ancelotti added.
Bellingham continued his impressive scoring streak, netting in six consecutive league games. However, Vinícius will miss the upcoming match against Sevilla after receiving his fifth yellow card for dissent.
Rayo Vallecano, currently in 13th place, has shown resilience this season, having previously held Atletico Madrid to a 1-1 draw and forcing Barcelona to come from behind for a 2-1 victory.
“Before the game, we talked about our recent matches against Real Madrid where we were close to winning, so we knew that if they weren’t at their best, we could achieve a good result,” said Rayo coach Íñigo Pérez.
Navas Bids Farewell to Sevilla Fans
In other La Liga action, Sevilla’s Jesús Navas bid farewell to his home fans during a 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo, as he nears the end of his 20-year playing career.
Players from both teams donned “Navas Legend” T-shirts before kickoff, and Navas was honored with an emotional tribute that included trophies displayed on the pitch. He was visibly moved, kneeling to kiss the turf when substituted in the 70th minute.
“Jesús has always been my role model; I remember watching him as a child,” said Sevilla goal-scorer Manu Bueno. “I am so proud to have scored this goal and dedicated it to him.”
Navas announced in May that he would retire at the end of the season. The 39-year-old made his debut for Sevilla in 2004 and enjoyed a successful stint at Manchester City from 2013 to 2017, winning a Premier League title. He also helped Sevilla secure two Europa League titles and two Copa del Reys.
Navas was part of the Spanish national team that won the European Championship last summer, marking his second title. He will play his final match at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on December 22.
Larin Powers Mallorca to Victory
Cyle Larin scored twice, including one goal while Mallorca was down to ten men, leading to a 2-1 comeback win over Girona. Larin equalized after Girona’s Donny Van de Beek opened the scoring, and despite Mallorca losing Vedat Muriqi to a red card in the 32nd minute, Larin secured the victory by deflecting a clearance from Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga into the net in the 51st minute.
In another match, Espanyol and Osasuna played to a goalless draw.
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