Overview
- Vinícius Júnior ended his LaLiga drought with a 15th-minute opener, his first league goal since October.
- Jorge de Frutos leveled for Rayo four minutes into the second half after Álvaro García’s knockdown.
- Rayo finished with nine men after Pathé Ciss saw a straight red for a foul on Dani Ceballos and Pep Chavarría received a late second yellow.
- Nobel Mendy’s foul on Brahim Díaz deep in stoppage time led to the decisive spot kick that Kylian Mbappé converted in the 100th minute.
- Jude Bellingham exited early with an apparent hamstring injury, with reporting suggesting a layoff of around a month, as the win marked Madrid’s sixth straight in LaLiga to keep the gap to Barcelona at one point.