Real Madrid clinched a dramatic 2-1 victory against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, thanks to Kylian Mbappe's penalty in the 100th minute, keeping them just one point behind leaders Barcelona. The match was marred by Jude Bellingham's early hamstring injury, raising concerns for both club and international commitments. Rayo Vallecano finished with nine players after two late red cards.
Real Madrid hosted Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu on February 1, 2026, aiming to rebound from a midweek 4-2 Champions League defeat to Benfica. The visitors, sitting in the bottom half of the table, have historically troubled their city rivals, losing only two of the last seven encounters, including a goalless draw in the reverse fixture in November.
The confirmed lineups saw Real Madrid start with Thibaut Courtois in goal, backed by Fede Valverde, Asencio, Huijsen, and Camavinga in defense; Arda Guler, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Jude Bellingham in midfield; and Franco Mastantuono, Mbappe, and Vinicius Junior up front. Rayo fielded Augusto Batalla in goal, with Andrei Ratiu, Jeremy Lejeune, Nobel Mendy, and Pep Chavarria in defense; Pape Ciss, Alberto Gumbau, and others in midfield; and Unai Lopez, Jorge de Frutos, and Sergio Camello leading the attack.
Vinicius Junior opened the scoring early, notching his first goal since October with a stunning strike into the top corner after racing down the left. Despite leading at halftime, Real faced jeers from frustrated Bernabeu fans due to a lack of chances against a team just above the relegation zone.
Early in the second half, Jorge de Frutos equalized for Rayo with a clinical finish from a well-worked team move, exposing defensive complacency. Thibaut Courtois made a crucial leg save to deny Andrei Ratiu one-on-one just after the hour mark. Mbappe later hit the crossbar after rounding the goalkeeper.
The game turned chaotic late on. Pape Ciss was sent off for a stamp, reducing Rayo to 10 men, and Eduardo Camavinga struck the post as Real pushed. In the eighth minute of stoppage time, Mendy's foul on Brahim Diaz—introduced as an early substitute for the injured Bellingham—earned a penalty. Mbappe converted in the 100th minute to secure the win. Pep Chavarria's late dismissal left Rayo with nine players.
This marked Real's sixth consecutive La Liga victory under interim boss Alvaro Arbeloa, who had emphasized the importance of key players like Mbappe, Vinicius, and Bellingham: "They are players capable of unbalancing a game at any minute... So they have my full confidence."
Bellingham's injury overshadowed the result. The 22-year-old lasted less than 10 minutes, crumpling after chasing a long ball and clutching his left hamstring. He left in tears, shirt over his face, and was replaced by Diaz. Confirmed as a semitendinosus muscle tear, he faces about a month out, missing Champions League play-offs against Benfica on February 17 and 25, plus league games against Valencia, Real Sociedad, Osasuna, and possibly Getafe. This follows shoulder surgery in summer 2025 that sidelined him at the season's start. Concerns mount for England's 2026 World Cup campaign under manager Thomas Tuchel, who has stressed no guaranteed spots.
