It is Sunday, February 1st, and Real Madrid host their fellow Madrid side Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabéu. With this being the 22nd round of the La Liga season, every point matters. After Barcelona’s win against Elche the night before, Real Madrid came into the match four points behind the league leaders.
Rayo Vallecano arrived in Madrid fighting near the bottom of the table, sitting in 16th place alongside Getafe. The previous meeting between these two sides, on November 9th, 2025, ended in a goalless draw. It is a result that feels familiar in this fixture, as matches between these teams often end level. Real Madrid also had their painful last-minute 4–2 loss against Benfica fresh in mind, making a win tonight crucial to keep the Madridistas satisfied.
Before kick-off, the Bernabéu applauded Carlos Alcaraz following his Australian Open victory earlier that day. This was followed by a minute of silence for Lucien Muller (ex Real Madrid football player) and Brad Branson (ex Real Madrid Basket player), after which the stadium noise returned instantly.
Real Madrid lined up in a 4–3–3 with Mastantuono, Mbappé, and Vinícius leading the attack, while Rayo Vallecano opted for a 4–2–3–1.
First Half
The match kicked off at exactly 14:00, accompanied by loud whistles and chants from the stands. Real Madrid started with most of the possession, and an early chance for Vinícius led to a corner taken by Güler. It was clear Arbeloa had instructed his players to apply constant pressure.
Despite this, Rayo showed confidence. Ilias Akhomach broke through dangerously, though his shot went wide and Courtois was not truly tested. In the eighth minute, Jude Bellingham sprinted forward but suddenly went down holding his leg. Medical assistance was required, and his afternoon ended early as he left the pitch visibly disappointed. Brahim Díaz replaced him in midfield.
After fifteen minutes, Rayo earned a corner, again without consequence. Just moments later, the Bernabéu erupted as Vinícius opened the scoring, making it 1–0. He nearly doubled the lead shortly after, but his shot drifted wide.
Real Madrid dominated possession, though Rayo remained dangerous on the counter. Andrei Ratiu sprinted past several lines before being stopped by a crucial tackle from Valverde. By the half-hour mark, Madrid were firmly in control, but Rayo had grown more confident with a few attempts on goal.
In the 43rd minute, Real Madrid had two massive chances to extend their lead, but neither resulted in a goal. After three minutes of added time and opportunities for both sides, the score remained 1–0 at halftime.
Second Half
The second half began with one change for Real Madrid, as Asensio made way for Ceballos. Rayo started aggressively, creating a chance within the first minute. Moments later, Mbappé was brought down, prompting loud whistles from the crowd after the referee waved play on.
In the 48th minute, Jorge de Frutos equalised for Rayo Vallecano with an assist from Álvaro García, making it 1–1. Gumbau received the first yellow card of the match after fouling Ceballos. Frustration began to grow in the stands, especially as Rayo goalkeeper Batalla took his time with restarts.
Iñigo Pérez introduced fresh legs in the 55th minute, making multiple substitutions. Shortly after, Pep Chavarría was booked for a foul on Valverde. The next phase of the match was defined by Real Madrid’s frustration and Rayo’s growing confidence.
Arbeloa brought on Gonzalo for Mastantuono, searching for energy and urgency. Then came a huge moment in the 67th minute. Mbappé found himself in front of an open goal, with the goalkeeper out of position, but his shot hit the crossbar instead of the net. The reaction from the crowd said it all.
Ceballos was booked for a foul on Nobel Mendy, who required brief medical attention. With fifteen minutes remaining, Rodrygo and Alaba were introduced. The referee’s decisions continued to frustrate the home crowd, especially after repeated fouls on Vinícius went unpunished.
Then came a turning point. Pathé Ciss received a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Ceballos. Despite having a free kick in a dangerous position, Real Madrid failed to convert. Tensions boiled over during further substitutions, and Vinícius was booked for delaying the restart.
With four minutes left, Real Madrid continued to press but could not find the breakthrough. Time-wasting from Rayo added to the anger in the stadium, resulting in nine minutes of added time.
Those nine minutes were filled with frustration, impatience, and hope on both sides. Hope that Madrid would score, and hope that Rayo could hold on for a point.
In the final moments, Real Madrid were awarded a penalty. The stadium fell into a tense silence. Rodrygo held the ball, but it was Kylian Mbappé who stepped up. When he scored, the Bernabéu exploded. Strangers hugged, fans jumped, and suddenly the previous 100 minutes of frustration were forgotten.
Rayo finished the match with another red card, this time for Pep Chavarría, but the outcome was already decided.
Post-Match
Real Madrid took home a dramatic 2–1 win. A victory that meant more than three points. The gap to Barcelona is now reduced to just one point, and the La Liga title race is wide open again.
Next stop, my other favourite stadium, Mestalla, on February 8th.
The ambience before the match.
