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 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
74 minutes
Real are living a little dangerously. The ball falls to Imbula on the edge of the box and he hits one with his left. It flashes wide of the far post.
Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
77 minutes
Benzema is down, clutching his left leg. An injury concern for Real, who could do without losing the Frenchman.
Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
78 minutes
Benzema can't recover from his knock and is replaced by 18-year-old Vinícius Júnior.
Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
82 minutes
Real don't look in any rush to score a second. They probably won't need one, but grinding out 1-0 wins against Huesca and Rayo Vallecano isn't what most fans would have envisaged at the start of the season.
Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
83 minutes
Imbula, on loan at Rayo from Stoke, is in the book for a late challenge.
Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
87 minutes
Ceballos is unfortunate not to pick out Vazquez with an intricate through ball. Vinícius has a shot, but it's blocked and loops over the bar.
Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
90 minutes
A late chance for Rayo as Vazquez gives away a needless free kick. Bebe floats the ball in, but the flag is up for offside.
Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
90+1 minutes
Three minutes of added time will be played
Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
90+1 minutes
So close! Rayo are denied twice from close range by Courtois, who saves Real from embarrassment. The resulting corner is headed over and the hosts, by the skin of their teeth, survive.
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