Kylian Mbappé stayed ice-cold to bury a 100th-minute spot-kick and earn Real Madrid a dramatic 2–1 victory over Rayo Vallecano in a bad-tempered La Liga derby on Sunday.
The result cut the gap to FC Barcelona to one point after the champions’ win against Elche CF on Saturday, but it came at a cost: Jude Bellingham limped off early with what appeared to be a hamstring problem, leaving the hosts to ride an emotional rollercoaster in front of a restless crowd.
A derby with tension written all over it
The mood inside Santiago Bernabéu Stadium was edgy long before the late fireworks. Madrid arrived under pressure after their midweek defeat to S.L. Benfica, a result that pushed them into a UEFA Champions League play-off round and left supporters in no mood for sympathy.
Coach Álvaro Arbeloa and Mbappé had urged unity beforehand, but whistles returned—echoing the discontent seen a fortnight earlier against Levante UD—as soon as the match became messy.
Rayo fed off that unease. Former Barcelona winger Ilias Akhomach flashed an early warning shot just wide, a chance that would have turned the stadium’s nervous energy into full-blown fury had it nestled inside the post.
Bellingham injury blow, then Vinícius provides the spark
Madrid’s night took an immediate hit when Bellingham pulled up clutching the back of his thigh and had to be withdrawn in obvious discomfort. It was the kind of setback that can freeze a team’s rhythm—and it briefly did—before the hosts found a way to land the first punch.
Vinícius Júnior opened the scoring in the 15th minute with sharp footwork inside the area, creating just enough space to fire high beyond Augusto Batalla and into the net.
The goal should have settled everything. Instead, it only half-did. Arda Güler went close and Batalla was forced into action again, but the Bernabéu’s patience remained thin. Even with the lead, the hosts were whistled off at the interval—an unmistakable reminder that performance, not just points, was being demanded.
Rayo strike back as Madrid wobble after the break
Four minutes into the second half, the derby flipped. Álvaro García nodded a cross down into the danger area and Jorge de Frutos, a former Madrid youth player, drilled the equaliser home.
The stadium’s frustration turned audible again as Madrid’s control loosened. Rayo almost completed the turnaround on the hour when Andrei Rațiu burst through with only Thibaut Courtois to beat, but the Belgian produced a superb stop to keep Madrid level.
At the other end, Mbappé went within inches of restoring the lead—rounding the goalkeeper and striking from distance, only to see the effort rattle the bar. The miss felt like the kind that can haunt a team on a night when nerves are already exposed.
Red card changes the maths, but not the stress
Rayo’s resistance became harder as the contest turned nastier. Midfielder Pathé Ciss was shown a red card for a heavy challenge on Dani Ceballos, leaving the visitors to defend with 10 men while Madrid tried to force a winner.
Madrid did create the pressure you’d expect: Eduardo Camavinga struck the post with a header as the hosts “turned the screw,” and the ball began to live in Rayo’s half. Yet the anxiety never left the stadium—especially when the fourth official signalled a lengthy stoppage time that felt like an invitation for more drama, not a guarantee of Madrid relief.
The decisive moment: Brahim wins it, Mbappé delivers
With the clock bleeding into the final seconds, Madrid were handed their lifeline. Brahim Díaz was brought down clumsily in the box by Nobel Mendy, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Mbappé, under the heaviest pressure of the night and with the stadium ready to explode either way, stayed calm and rolled the penalty home to snatch all three points at the death.
Rayo’s frustration boiled over in the aftermath. Pep Chavarría was shown a second yellow late on for shoving Rodrygo, leaving the visitors to finish with nine men and confirming a furious ending to an already combustible derby.
Key talking points
1) Bellingham concern hangs over the win
Madrid got the result, but the early withdrawal of Bellingham will dominate the immediate conversation. The reaction and the area of discomfort suggest a hamstring issue, and Madrid will hope the damage is minor.
2) The Bernabéu remains a pressure cooker
Even after taking the lead, the whistles continued. The crowd’s message was clear: the demand is for control, conviction, and consistency—not survival football and late escapes.
3) Mbappé’s “big moment” habit is priceless
When the match turned chaotic and time was running out, Madrid still had the league’s most reliable finisher on the field. In games where margins are thin and emotions run hot, that composure can decide titles.