Real Madrid return to winning ways with slim victory over Rayo Vallecano
Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano: Re-live the action from the Bernabeu
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Your support makes all the difference.Real Madrid put the Champions League loss to CSKA Moscow behind them with a hard-earned 1-0 derby win over Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabeu.
Santiago Solari and his side had been jeered off after a 3-0 home defeat by the Russians in midweek, but produced the required result against their local rivals.
An early goal from Karim Benzema, who later went off injured, proved enough for victory, which moved Los Blancos up to third in the LaLiga table, two points off the top.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, though, had to make a smart double save in stoppage time to deny Rayo, who remain second bottom, a dramatic equaliser. Re-live the action below:
Real Madrid 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
6 minutes
To no one's surprise, Real are dominating the ball in the early stages. The visitors are content to sit deep and stay in their shape, although how successful that will prove remains to be seen.
Real Madrid 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
8 minutes
Marcelo has started well on the left, linking up with his teammates in the final third. He plays a perfectly weighted pass in behind the Rayo defence for Asensio, but the latter gets his control wrong and it runs out for a goal kick.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano (Benzema)
13 minutes
That didn't take long. Benzema starts the move and finishes it off. He plays a long ball out to Vazquez, who picks out the Frenchman as he runs into the box. The finish is a clinical one. Real lead and it's hardly surprising given the way the game has started.
Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
16 minutes
Rayo have had a couple of chances since going behind. Velazquez has the best of them from a corner, but heads wide with time and space to pick his spot. Real look shaky at the back.
Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
17 minutes
Asensio should make it 2-0. Kroos plays him in behind the Rayo defence, but he can't beat Dimitrevski one on one.
Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
19 minutes
Rayo, if they continue to defend like this, could be on the end of a thrashing here. There's far too much space for Real to exploit, and they're doing it well. Marcelo and Kroos link up on the left and the ball is played across to Vazquez, who hits a volley goalwards. It's cleared off the line and Rayo escape - for now.
Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
22 minutes
Another chance for Rayo defender Velazquez. He wins a header from a floated free kick, but there's not enough power on it to beat Courtois.
Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
25 minutes
Benzema finds space again and drills a ball across goal. It's cleared frantically, but it just keeps coming straight back at the Rayo defence. A second Real goal, at this point, feels like an inevitability.
Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
28 minutes
Kroos and Modric are controlling things in midfield. That hasn't always been the case this season, but Real appear to be nearer their fluid best when going forward this evening. The question now is whether they can keep Rayo out at the other end.
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