Real Madrid Narrowly Defeat Rayo Vallecano to Go Level with Barcelona in La Liga

Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior score in the first half as Madrid secure a 2-1 win ahead of a pivotal Champions League clash with Atlético Madrid.

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.