Real Madrid went to the top of the La Liga table for the time being as they came from behind to beat Rayo Vallecano 3-2 on Saturday night. Embarba and Miku had given the home side an early lead before Gareth Bale and Lucas Vazquez fired Madrid back into the tie and eventually get a historic win.
Squads
Rayo Vallecano: Juan Carlos, Tito, Quini, Amaya, Crespo, Trashorras, Jozabed, Pablo, Embarba, Bebe, Miku
Real Madrid: Navas, Danilo, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo, Kroos, Kovacic, Isco, Jese, Bale, Benzema
Without the services of Cristiano Ronaldo in La Liga for the first time this season, Zidane started Jese Rodriguez alongside Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale in attack. Isco was also restored to the starting lineup after missing out in the 3-0 win over Villarreal. The last time these two sides met at the Bernabeu in December, Real Madrid won 10-2 with the trio of BBC scoring nine times.
Real Madrid concede twice within 14 minutes
The visitors almost took the lead as early as the third minute when Gareth Bale had a chance to score from the edge of the box. Benzema’s cut-back saw the Welsh forward attempt a low driving shot that hit the post.
But it was Rayo who took the lead when Pepe failed to deal with the run of Bebe on the left flank. The Portuguese forward’s low cross found Adrian Embarba inside the six-yard box and he simply had to tap it in to give the home side a 1-0 lead.
No sooner had they gone 1-0 down, Benzema had a chance to level the score with a run into the box. Kovacic managed to find the Frenchman with a lob over the defence but the 28-year-old striker had a tough job turning on the spot to put it away with his right foot with his back to goal and ultimately shot over.
Rayo recovered quickly, though, as they soon took a 2-0 lead in the 14th minute. A corner kick was delivered into the six-yard box and despite Raphael Varane’s best efforts to clear the ball, his header saw the ball fall to Miku who put the ball past an onrushing Keylor Navas.
Bale and Vazquez restore parity
Rayo’s front three of Miku, Embarba and Bebe were picking Madrid apart time and again and, with the rain coming down at the Vallecas, Zidane’s men were struggling to get a foothold in the game. However, it changed when Real Madrid won a corner.
Toni Kroos took the corner and found Gareth Bale unmarked in the box as his header went in near the far post to give the visitors a lifeline.
But Real Madrid were dealt a huge blow when Benzema had to be substituted a few minutes before half-time with Lucas Vasquez coming on. The striker limped off the pitch and the club will be concerned whether he will make a recovery before the big game against Manchester City in the Champions League in midweek.
Half-time: Rayo Vallecano 2-1 Real Madrid
Soon after the restart, Real Madrid took just seven minutes to level the score. Danilo sent in a cross into the box and Lucas Vazquez outjumped his marker to head it home to make it 2-2. After the hour mark, Zidane brought on Luka Modric for Jese to ensure the visitors saw more of the ball.
And in the 81st minute, Gareth Bale ensured Real Madrid would go home with three points. After picking up the ball in midfield during a counter-attack, he suddenly accelerated towards the Vallecano box with purpose and fired a low shot that saw the home fans silenced.
Rayo had a chance in stoppage time through Miku but some heroic defending saw Los Blancos hang on for the win and go top of the table with Atletico and Barcelona yet to play.
