Mbappe's Clutch Penalty Rescues Real Madrid's Title Dreams Against Rayo Vallecano - Player Ratings Inside

Real Madrid mirrored Barcelona's triumph at Elche on Sunday evening, though Álvaro Arbeloa's team required a decisive late strike from Kylian Mbappé to edge past relegation-battling Rayo Vallecano in a narrow 2–1 victory.

Iñigo Perez's away side arrived at Madrid's tense stadium sitting in 16th place following three consecutive defeats. Despite conceding first to a brilliant Vinicius Junior goal, Rayo might have anticipated a heavy defeat, yet they left the capital feeling they had missed opportunities.

Mbappé's composed penalty kick in stoppage time concealed a lackluster performance from the home team, exposing their defensive weaknesses when not in possession. The visitors dominated large portions of the second period, but Pathé Ciss's reckless foul on Dani Ceballos that reduced Rayo to ten players ultimately enabled Madrid to apply consistent pressure during the match's final 20 minutes.

An erratic challenge from Nobel Mendy on Brahim Díaz led to Madrid's 100th-minute penalty and decisive moment. Nevertheless, they're unlikely to match Barça domestically or advance far in the Champions League if such displays become routine during the campaign's latter stages.

One Thing We Can't Ignore

One Thing We Can't Ignore

There are definitely tactical concerns for Arbeloa to address, as his accommodation of Madrid's star players has created recurring issues for Los Blancos. Following experimentation with Xabi Alonso, this Madrid team suddenly resembles the squad that disappointed during Carlo Ancelotti's concluding campaign.

It appears Arbeloa must navigate the forthcoming period without Jude Bellingham, who was visibly emotional as he left the field just ten minutes into the match. A sprint behind Rayo's defensive line left the English midfielder grasping his hamstring—an injury that could keep him out for several months.

Given Madrid's disorganized defensive approach, Arbeloa will sorely miss Bellingham's dynamic presence. Without his contribution, they appear thin in central areas.

The injury's extent will become clear in upcoming days, but it appeared severe. A truly serious injury could jeopardize Bellingham's World Cup participation.

Real Madrid Player Ratings vs. Rayo Vallecano (4-3-3)

Real Madrid Player Ratings vs. Rayo Vallecano (4-3-3)

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

GK: Thibaut Courtois—6.9: The Belgian faced more action than desired, with Madrid's keeper making a crucial one-on-one save against Andrei Ratiu to deny the visitors a second-half advantage.

RB: Federico Valverde—8.4: Another energetic performance from Valverde, whose cross-field passes troubled the Rayo backline. However, he was partially at fault for the equalizer, and the visitors found success attacking down his flank.

CB: Raúl Asencio—6.4: The young center-back's display was less chaotic than Wednesday's outing, though he appeared to be substituted at halftime due to injury concerns.

CB: Dean Huijsen—7.2: The ex-Bournemouth defender struggled with the instability surrounding him, at times finding himself alongside three converted midfielders in the defensive line. Huijsen's careless possession play epitomized Madrid's disjointed performance.

LB: Eduardo Camavinga—8.4: Arbeloa opted for Camavinga over two natural left-backs on the bench. The French player maintained a conservative approach in possession while successfully navigating pressure and advancing play on several occasions.

DM: Aurélien Tchouaméni—7.6: Failed to provide Madrid with the midfield stability he typically offers, particularly during transitional moments.

CM: Jude Bellingham—6.1: The previously mentioned hamstring problem limited his opportunity to influence the match significantly.

CM: Arda Güler—7.2: Frequently positioned in deeper midfield roles, Güler proved crucial to Madrid's first-half dominance through his ball retention. Linked effectively with Vini Jr during transitions, though his impact diminished after halftime.

RW: Franco Mastantuono—6.7: Deployed primarily in wide positions during his hour-long appearance, Mastantuono found it difficult to make his mark. His substitution during a sluggish second-half start was predictable.

LW: Vinicius Junior—8.3: Visibly motivated by early crowd hostility, Vini executed his goal brilliantly and delivered several electrifying moments in the opening period. His second-half frustrations mounted, and he was fortunate to avoid a booking for diving.

ST: Kylian Mbappé—8.1: La Liga's top scorer arrived in excellent form, yet it seemed he might be denied on Sunday. Despite hitting the crossbar with an open goal, the French striker redeemed himself from the penalty spot.

SUB: Brahim Díaz (11' for Bellingham)—7.8: An early substitute following Bellingham's injury, Brahim consistently targeted the left half-space before becoming more adventurous when Madrid sought a winner. He earned the penalty and displayed neat combination play.

SUB: Dani Ceballos (46' for Asencio)—7.3: Beginning the second half in defense, Ceballos later moved to midfield and worked tirelessly to break down Rayo's resolute defensive structure.

SUB: Gonzalo García (60' for Mastantuono)—6.3: Appeared uncertain about his tactical responsibilities upon entering the match.

SUB: David Alaba (77' for Huijsen)—6.1: Had minimal involvement after his introduction, with Ciss receiving his dismissal almost immediately afterward.

SUB: Rodrygo (77' for Güler)—7.0: Should have been introduced earlier. The Brazilian showed promise in the final stages.

Subs not used: Andriy Lunin (GK), Fran González (GK), Dani Carvajal, Álvaro Carreras, Fran García.

What the Ratings Tell Us

What the Ratings Tell Us

The Numbers That Explain Madrid's Escape

The Numbers That Explain Madrid's Escape