Overview
- Real Madrid's 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano moves them level with Barcelona at the top of La Liga, though Barcelona have a game in hand following the postponement of their match due to the death of a team doctor.
- Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior scored early first-half goals, but Pedro Díaz's strike for Rayo just before halftime created a tense second half for Madrid.
- Carlo Ancelotti defended his team's performance, highlighting the challenges of balancing domestic and Champions League fixtures, and praised his forwards for their contributions.
- Key players Thibaut Courtois and Antonio Rüdiger missed the match due to minor health issues but are expected to return for Wednesday's Champions League second-leg clash against Atlético Madrid.
- The La Liga title race remains exceptionally close, with just one point separating Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atlético Madrid after Atlético's surprise loss to Getafe.