Kylian Mbappe scores a 100th-minute penalty as Real Madrid beat nine-man Rayo Vallecano 2-1, cutting Barcelona’s La Liga lead to one point.
KYLIAN Mbappe kept his composure to convert a 100th-minute penalty, securing a dramatic 2-1 La Liga victory for Real Madrid over nine-man Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
The win at the Santiago Bernabeu cut Barcelona’s lead at the top of the table back to one point.
Vinicius Junior opened the scoring for Madrid in the 15th minute with a fine individual effort after Jude Bellingham limped off with a hamstring injury.
Jorge de Frutos pulled Rayo level early in the second half, capitalising on a tense atmosphere following Madrid’s midweek Champions League defeat.
The visitors’ task became harder when midfielder Pathe Ciss was sent off for a foul on Dani Ceballos.
After Eduardo Camavinga headed against the post, Madrid were awarded a late penalty when Nobel Mendy fouled Brahim Diaz.
Mbappe calmly rolled home the spot-kick for his 22nd league goal of the season.
Rayo finished with nine men after Pep Chavarria received a second yellow card for shoving Rodrygo Goes.
Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said it would take time for his team to find consistency after six games in charge.
“I’m not Gandalf the White,” Arbeloa told reporters.
“What I want from my players is what I’m seeing, commitment, attitude, mentality, knowing that to win each game quality is not enough.”
Arbeloa added that Bellingham would be a “big absence” for the coming weeks, including Champions League play-off matches against Benfica.
Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao struck late to secure a 1-1 Basque derby draw against Real Sociedad.
Goncalo Guedes had put the visitors ahead with a long-range rocket in the 37th minute.
Real Sociedad played the final stages with ten men after Brais Mendez was sent off.
Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta then burst into the area to smash home an 88th-minute equaliser for Athletic.
“I think we deserved the three points today, when it was 11 against 11 we were dominant,” said Real Sociedad midfielder Carlos Soler.
The draw left Real Sociedad eighth, while Athletic Bilbao are 11th and winless in their last six league games.
“We’ve had a difficult month, lots of adverse results… luckily with the final push we were able to draw,” said Ruiz de Galarreta.
In Sunday’s other fixture, Real Betis rose to fifth with a 2-1 win at Valencia.
