Real Madrid 2-1 Rayo Vallecano: Player ratings as Mbappe & Vini Jr fire hosts above Atletico

Real Madrid moved level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga after overcoming an energetic Rayo Vallecano 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

It was a less than convincing display from Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who boasted a number of big-name starters despite the impending return leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie with neighbourhood rivals Atletico Madrid.

After rattling the post early on through Vinicius Junior, the current La Liga holders found the breakthrough courtesy of Kylian Mbappe’s 18th goal of the season. The Frenchman was lively with his movement on the shoulder of Florian Lejeune and, after some nifty footwork, allowed him to cut back inside onto his favoured right, he lasered a low effort into the far corner of Augusto Batalla’s goal.

Not wanting to be outdone by his superstar teammate, Vinicius then scored a wonderful individual second for Madrid, firing home a deflected effort off the legs of Andrei Ratiu after taking Lejeune for a merry dance over by the corner flag.

Pedro Diaz bagged a sensational reply for Rayo before the interval, rocketing a shot in off the underside of Andriy Lunin’s crossbar, and Madrid did allow their level to drop as Rayo hustled and harried them in possession.

Mbappe and Vinicius should both have scored in the second half – the latter guilty of missing from six yards after fine work by Luka Modric – but they did enough to move level on points with Barcelona and above rivals Atletico, who slipped up in Sunday’s early game against Getafe.

Real Madrid player ratings (4-4-2)

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

Subs not used:Fran Gonzalez (GK), Sergio Mestre (GK), Ferland Mendy, Arda Guler, Brahim Diaz, Endrick.

Rayo Vallecano player ratings (4-5-1)

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

Subs not used:Dani Cardenas (GK), Pelayo Fernandez, Marco de las Sias, Eteinne Eto’o Pineda.