Real Madrid travelled to struggling Rayo Vallecano on Saturday knowing that a win would move them top of La Liga.
Rayo led 2-0 inside 14 minutes courtesy of goals from Adri Embarba and Miku, but Gareth Bale's header 10 minutes before the break gave the visitors hope ahead of the second period.
Indeed, Real Madrid then levelled through Lucas Vasquez in the 52nd minute, before Bale completed the turnaround in the 81st minute to send Los Blancos top of the division.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Afternoon all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from the Spanish capital as Rayo Vallecano welcome Madrid rivals Real Madrid. Both teams are in desperate need of the points at this stage of the campaign, but for very different reasons indeed. Rayo are just teetering outside of the bottom three as things stand, but victory for Real Madrid would see them rise above Barcelona into first position!
The prize on offer for Real Madrid this afternoon is just huge and it would be fair to say that they have enjoyed their recent meetings with capital rivals Rayo. Indeed, Real Madrid have won each of the last 15 La Liga clashes between the two teams and they recorded an incredible 10-2 victory in the reverse fixture at the Bernabeu in December, when Rayo finished the match with nine men.
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Real Madrid were also 2-0 winners when they travelled to this stadium last season and they have put 22 goals past Rayo in their last four league meetings. It is some record of dominance! Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Madrid...
TEAMS:
RAYO: Carlos; Tito, Quini, Amaya, Crespo; Trashorras, Jozabed, Hernandez; Embarba, Miku, Bebe
REAL: Navas; Danilo, Varane, Pepe, Marcelo; Kovacic, Kroos, Isco; Jese, Benzema, Bale
No real surprise that Rayo boss Paco Jemez has shuffled his pack this afternoon, with the likes of Bebe, Jozabed, Antonio Amaya and Jose Angel Crespo all returning to the XI. Javi Guerra drops out in the centre-forward position, but Roberto Trashorras and Pablo Hernandez keep their positions in the middle of the park. On-loan centre-back Diego Llorente is unavailable to face his parent club.
As for Real Madrid, a thigh problem has seen Cristiano Ronaldo miss out, but the Portuguese is expected to return for his team's Champions League semi-final first leg with Manchester City next week. Welshman Gareth Bale is back in the XI after overcoming a minor back injury, while Pepe, Mateo Kovacic, Isco and Jese Rodriguez have all come into the XI for the capital giants this afternoon.
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So there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now just over 40 minutes from kickoff on this warm afternoon in the capital. I shall speak about Real Madrid a little bit later, but let's start with Rayo, who currently sit 16th in La Liga on 35 points – three points outside of the relegation zone.
In all seriousness, Rayo's budget should not allow them to compete at this level of football, but Paco Jemez has once again performed miracles to give them a fighting chance of securing another La Liga campaign. They have only won eight of their 34 league games this season, but 11 draws have given them a three-point gap over 18th-place Sporting Gijon, who face Barcelona later tonight.
Rayo will actually enter the match off the back of an impressive 1-1 draw at Malaga during the week and last weekend, the capital side beat Villarreal in this stadium. They have only actually lost one of their last six in the league, but that run has included draws against relegation rivals Granada and struggling Eibar. One thing that you always get with Rayo is entertainment and that should be the case here!
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In terms of what Rayo have to come in the final weeks of the season – Jemez's side are again in Madrid to face Atletico Madrid next weekend, before travelling to Real Sociedad and hosting Levante in their last two. They are not going to improve on last season's 11th-place finish, however, and there is a concern that Jemez could walk away from his position at the end of the campaign.
Rayo have conceded the most goals in the league this season (66), which is not a surprise due to their open and expansive style of football. They have found the back of the net themselves on 46 occasions, however, which is the best scoring record in the bottom half of the table. In fact, only the top seven have scored more La Liga goals than Rayo this season, which is some statistic.
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As for Real Madrid, victory for Zinedine Zidane's side this afternoon would see them return to the top of the table, which seemed so unlikely when they lost 1-0 at home to Atletico Madrid at the end of February. Since then, Los Blancos have won all eight of their league matches to close the gap on the leaders Barcelona to just one point with four games left. They have dragged themselves back into contention!
As it stands, Real Madrid are third in the table – one point behind second-place Atletico, who trail the leaders Barcelona on the head-to-head record. Atletico will welcome Malaga to the Calderon this evening, before Barcelona host Sporting Gijon and in truth, it would be a big surprise if the top three did not all put three points on the board once again. There is just no room for error at this stage.
Real Madrid will enter the match off the back of a 3-0 win over Villarreal on Wednesday night, which followed a 5-1 victory away to Getafe last weekend. They are the top scorers in the league on 101 goals and from nowhere, suddenly have a serious chance of winning their first La Liga title since 2012.
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In terms of what is ahead of Real Madrid - the Spanish giants will travel to Man City for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final next Tuesday, before making the trip to Real Sociedad in the league next weekend. They will then welcome Man City to the Bernabeu for the second leg of their European tie, before hosting an improving Valencia in their penultimate league game of the campaign.
Los Blancos will finish their league season away to Deportivo La Coruna and surely only four victories would give them a chance of regaining the title. It promises to be a fascinating conclusion to the title race in Spain, but the fact that Real Madrid play first this weekend places them at a slight advantage. Right, just about time for my pre-match prediction as we approach kickoff here!
PREDICTION! I am finding it difficult to make a case for Rayo this afternoon. The home side, as always, will look to attack from the off and commit players forward, but I just cannot see them keeping out Real Madrid down the other end. I am going to back a comfortable 3-1 away win here.
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Just a reminder of the two teams for this afternoon...
RAYO: Carlos; Tito, Quini, Amaya, Crespo; Trashorras, Jozabed, Hernandez; Embarba, Miku, Bebe
REAL: Navas; Danilo, Varane, Pepe, Marcelo; Kovacic, Kroos, Isco; Jese, Benzema, Bale
KICKOFF! Here we go then - the pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. Time for the football then! No Ronaldo for Real Madrid this afternoon, but Bale is back in the fold. Right, it is the home side that get the first 45 minutes of action underway in Madrid...
... as expected, there is a wonderful atmosphere inside this brilliant little stadium! It is very old-school, but has so much about it. Rayo look long from kickoff and Bebe looks to battle Danilo for possession of the ball, but the right-back just about does enough. Fast, open start to events here.
POST! He has hit the beans! Bale strikes one from the edge of the box and it arrows towards the bottom corner, but the Welshman's effort hits the post and bounces just wide!
The rain is really falling at the moment as Real Madrid continue to look dangerous in the final third. Benzema finds space in a dangerous position, but the Frenchman slips and Crespo can intervene.
GOAL! Rayo 1-0 Real Madrid (Embarba)
Oh my word! Rayo make the breakthrough in the seventh minute of action as Bebe races away down the left before delivering a low cross into Embarba - who fires home from close range!
The noise inside this stadium is just incredible as the home supporters continue to respond to their team's all-action style. Pepe will not be too pleased with his role in that opener - Bebe was allowed to move past the centre-back far too easily! Real Madrid have serious work to do this afternoon.
CHANCE! Benzema beats the offside trap to meet a chipped pass from Kovacic, but the Frenchman's over-head kick was always missing the target. Good pressure from the visitors here.
GOAL! Rayo 2-0 Real Madrid (Miku)
Oh my good grief! Rayo have scored a second here as Miku fires home from close range after Real Madrid had failed to defend a corner from the right. What on earth happened at the back there!
Real Madrid love playing against Rayo - history dictates that - but that is not the case here. Los Blancos look awkward in the final third as the home team continue to boss possession in Madrid.
Pepe is forced to block a long-range strike from Embarba as Rayo continue to commit players in the final third of the field. The noise inside the stadium is just incredible and why on earth not!
I am not entirely sure what Bebe had for his lunch, but the former Manchester United attacker is in the mood this afternoon. He again shows nice feet to beat Danilo, before firing a long-range strike wide of the post. Pepe is then forced to come across and stop another powerful run down the left.
CHANCE! Excellent goalkeeping from Navas as the Real Madrid stopper comes out to meet Embarba, who had been sent through one-on-one with the Costa Rican. Embarba takes a whack for his troubles, but Navas had to make the challenge or it could well have been 3-0 to the home side.
The home supporters are absolutely loving life at the moment. It might be pouring down, but their team is 2-0 up against Real Madrid and looking capable of scoring every time they break forward.
Real Madrid need a little bit more from the likes of Bale and Benzema, but neither has been able to get into the game in the last 20 minutes or so. Who is that player that Real Madrid are missing and have been considering selling at the end of the season? Oh, Ronaldo. Yep, his presence is being missed.
SAVE! Navas flies across his goal to keep out a swerving strike from Bebe!
Marcelo finds the head of Bale with a deep cross, but it is comfortable for Carlos, who drops to his knees to make the save. Real Madrid really need a goal before the first period draws to a close.
Kovacic finds space inside the Rayo box and looks to pick out a teammate, but there are no takers and Rayo can clear the danger once again. Real Madrid are finding a couple of half-chances, but that is about it. Juan Carlos has not had to make a proper save in the home side's goal thus far here.
Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining and Rayo are comfortable, which is an incredible statement to make. Real Madrid have dragged themselves back into the title race, but they are showing no signs of dragging themselves back into this match. What a first half for the home side!
GOAL! Rayo 1-2 Real Madrid (Bale)
Game on! Bale meets a Kroos corner and his header drops into the opposite side of the net. It is just what Real Madrid were looking for and suddenly the home supporters have quietened down.
Marcelo has a low strike deflected wide of the post as Real Madrid continue to press here.
CHANCE! Embarba has a super chance to score his second for the home side, but the attacker heads high and wide at the back post - what a miss that is! Such an open game here!
REAL MADRID SUB! Vasquez replaces Benzema, who limps off the pitch!
Another half-chance for Real Madrid as Bale cuts inside before attempting to curl one into the opposite corner, but the Welshman's effort just misses the post. Bale continues to impress here.
Rayo just want the half to end at the moment as Real Madrid continue to look the most likely to score the game's next goal. Bale again finds space in a wide area before attempting to deliver, but there are a lot of white shirts in and around the box and eventually Trashorras manages to clear down-field.
HALF-TIME: Rayo 2-1 Real Madrid
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Real Madrid trailing 2-1 to capital rivals Rayo Vallecano in this La Liga contest. Goals from Embarba and Miku saw the home side lead 2-0 inside 14 minutes, but Bale's header in the 35th minute has given Real Madrid hope!
STATISTICS! Real Madrid have dominated the possession with 61%, while they have had seven attempts, but just one of those was on target - the goal. Rayo, meanwhile, have hit the target with four of their eight attempts thus far. No bookings to report thus far, which is somewhat of a surprise!
BENCH WATCH! Rayo boss Paco Jemez has a number of attacking options on his bench this afternoon, with the likes of Manucho, Javi Guerra and Razvan Rat all capable of making a difference. Real Madrid, meanwhile, have been forced to introduce Vasquez in place of the injured Benzema, but James Rodriguez, Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos are still available for Zidane this afternoon.
Safe to say that Real Madrid are missing a certain Portuguese in this match...
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RESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players re-join us on the pitch for the second period. Can Real Madrid turn this one around? We shall see! It is the visitors that resume the action in Madrid...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period gathers pace in the capital.
Kovacic drives through the Rayo midfield and looks to pick out a pass into Bale, but Amaya steps across to make the challenge, before Vasquez just fails to find Bale from the opposite side. The home supporters are still in fine voice, but their team could face an onslaught in this second period.
Not an awful lot to report in terms of clear chances in the early stages of the second period and Rayo are just a little bit wary of committing players forward at the moment. Who can blame them!
GOAL! Rayo 2-2 Real Madrid (Vasquez)
We are square here! Real Madrid have come from two goals behind to level at 2-2 as Vasquez heads a brilliant Danilo cross into the back of the net! Rayo are wobbling on home soil!
Isco stands over a free kick outside the Rayo box, but the Spaniard misses the target.
RAYO SUBS! Iturra and Guerra replace Jozabed and Hernandez for the home side.
Rayo just cannot stop the flow of pressure at the moment as Tito is forced across to challenge Bale, who was about to pull the trigger inside the box. Real Madrid are firmly on the front foot here.
CHANCE! Bale delivers a wonderful cross into the Rayo box and it only needs a touch from Vasquez, but the Spaniard cannot make contact and somehow the home side survive a third!
I would be astounded if we had seen the last of the goals this afternoon as both teams continue to commit players in the final third. A point is no good for Real Madrid - they have to get all three.
BOOKING! Crespo (Rayo) is booked for a late challenge on Kovacic.
REAL MADRID SUB! Luka Modric replaces Jese for Real Madrid.
You just get the feeling that there is a winning goal in this match and it would be some turn-up if Rayo could find a third. In truth, it has been all Real Madrid in this second period and Bale looks the player most likely to make something happen in the final third. Still around 25 minutes left in this one.
BOOKING! Kovacic (Real Madrid) is booked for a late challenge on Embarba.
BOOKING! Iturra (Rayo) is booked for a late challenge on Vasquez.
This is usually the point where Real Madrid would look to Ronaldo to find a late winner, but the Portuguese is not available this afternoon and Benzema also went off injured in the first period. Bale has been a little quiet in the last five minutes or so, but he could become a hero late on here.
Pretty good chance that someone could get sent off in the final 20 minutes here as late challenges continue to arrive. The referee just needs to settle the players down, as difficult as that sounds!
Trashorras curls one into the arms of Navas, who makes a comfortable save.
BOOKING! Trashorras (Rayo) is booked for dissent.
Pepe comes across to challenge Iturra and it is a good job that the centre-back gets something on the ball because Embarba was free in the middle! Down the other end, Bale goes on the outside of Quini before delivering into Vasquez once again, but Amaya makes another vital clearance.
Real Madrid continue to probe outside of the Rayo box, but it is just too tight in that area!
BOOKING! Amaya (Rayo) is booked for a late challenge on Bale.
Bale is standing over a free kick in a very dangerous area...
... RAYO SUB! Before the free kick, Rat replaces the injured Tito.
REAL MADRID SUB! James Rodriguez replaces Kovacic for the away side.
Bale fires his free kick onto the top of the wall and Rayo can clear down-field.
Very stop-start game at the moment due to the sheer volume of challenges taking place!
GOAL! Rayo 2-3 Real Madrid (Bale)
What a massive goal that is! Real Madrid have completed the turnaround in the 81st minute as Bale drives into the Rayo box before finding the back of the net with a powerful strike - what a moment!
BOOKING! Rat (Rayo) is booked for a late challenge on Modric.
What a turnaround from Real Madrid - if they can hold on. Bale continued to look the most likely for the away side and the Welshman has come up with a massive, massive goal for his team here.
Little over two minutes of normal time remaining here and in truth, Real Madrid are comfortable. Rayo were always holding on at 2-1 and the third goal for the visitors always looked likely to arrive.
The referee had indicated that we will play an additional four minutes here!
Real Madrid are being forced to do a little bit of defending at the moment as Rayo continue to deliver into the away side's box, but the ball is cleared when Modric fires it towards Bale.
Vasquez hits the deck and Real Madrid have a free kick as time runs out here.
FULL-TIME: Rayo 2-3 Real Madrid
FULL-TIME: Rayo 2-3 Real Madrid
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Real Madrid running out 3-2 winners over Rayo Vallecano to move to the top of La Liga - what a turnaround in the capital! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action once again. Until next time!
