Late heartbreak for Rayo Vallecano as French star’s clutch strike seals crucial three points in tense Bernabéu battle.
A stunning, 100th-minute penalty from Kylian Mbappé snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory for Real Madrid over a defiant Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, keeping the pressure on league leaders Barcelona.
The match, overshadowed early by a tearful, injury-forced exit for Jude Bellingham, turned into a test of resilience for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who ultimately needed a last-gasp intervention to secure their sixth consecutive league win.
Seeking momentum after a midweek Champions League setback, Real found an early breakthrough. Vinícius Júnior, ending a personal league goal drought dating back to October, curled a beautiful strike into the top corner in the 15th minute to ignite the home crowd.
Rayo, however, fought back valiantly after the break. Just five minutes into the second half, Álvaro García’s header found Jorge de Frutos, who slammed the ball past Thibaut Courtois to stun the Bernabéu into silence.
The game then opened up, with both sides missing golden chances to win it. Courtois made a crucial one-on-one save to deny Andrei Rațiu, while at the other end, Mbappé saw his chip over the stranded goalkeeper agonizingly rebound off the crossbar.
The momentum shifted decisively when Rayo’s Pathé Ciss was sent off for a high challenge on Dani Ceballos. Despite their numerical advantage, Real struggled to break through until the dying moments of a marathon stoppage time.
With virtually the last kick of the game, Brahim Díaz was fouled in the box. Mbappé stepped up, coolly sent goalkeeper Agustín Batalla the wrong way, and sparked scenes of pure relief and elation, marking his 100th goal for the club in the most dramatic fashion possible.
The win pulls Real Madrid to within a single point of Barcelona at the summit. For a brave Rayo Vallecano, reduced to nine men by a late second yellow for Pep Chavarria, it was a crushing defeat that leaves them hovering just one point above the relegation zone, their fight for survival dealt a brutal late blow.
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