Overview
- Real Madrid won 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu with Kylian Mbappé scoring a penalty and a stoppage-time goal while Álvaro Carreras and Jude Bellingham also scored and Sergio Camello replied for Rayo.
- Yan Diomande started for the first time for Real Madrid after only short substitute appearances this season and did not make a decisive impact in the match.
- Mourinho publicly defended Diomande’s limited minutes, saying the 19-year-old is still developing and asking for calm and patience over his integration.
- The coach warned that the team is wasting many clear chances and said the less convincing second half was partly down to physical and mental fatigue after a Champions League game three days earlier.
- The result moves Real to second in La Liga and highlights a roster challenge for Mourinho as he balances player rotation, recovery and giving the club’s high-profile young signing more game time.