On a wet and rainy afternoon on February 1, 2026, Real Madrid face off against Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabéu. The evening began with a moment of celebration as the fans rose to applaud Carlos Alcaraz following his Australian Open win earlier that day. That was followed by a minute’s silence in memory of former Real Madrid footballer Lucien Muller and ex–Real Madrid basketball player Brad Branson. Once the tributes concluded, the stadium snapped back to life, and attention turned firmly to the task at hand. Real Madrid continued their strong domestic form, claiming their sixth consecutive league win of 2-1 as they battled past Rayo Vallecano in front of a lively home crowd.
Real struck first midway through the opening half in a well-worked move. After an early injury from Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior seized on a quick transition and produced a stunning individual goal in the 16th minute, weaving past defenders before curling the ball into the top corner to put Madrid ahead. Real Madrid continued to create opportunities, Arda Güler flashed a shot that forced a good save, and both Mbappé and Eduardo Camavinga saw efforts rebound off the woodwork, but could not extend their lead before halftime.
Rayo, resilient and organized, hit back early after the break. Jorge de Frutos capitalized on a moment of space to level the score in the 49th minute, setting up a tense second half where both sides pushed for an advantage. The match swung further in Madrid’s favour when Rayo were reduced to ten men in the 81st minute after Pathé Ciss was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge.
Despite sustained pressure and several chances, Real Madrid could not break the deadlock until deep into added time. A foul on Brahim inside the box earned a clear penalty, and Mbappé coolly converted to write his name on the scoresheet and secure a nervy but crucial 2–1 victory.
The contest showcased Real Madrid’s attacking threat and the drama of late-game football, with a result that keeps them pushing for honours in a tight La Liga title race.