Real Madrid 2-1 Rayo Vallecano Player Ratings: Kylian Mbappe’s Ice-Cold Penalty Seals Late Win for Los Bloncos

Real Madrid were pushed to the edge before edging past Rayo Vallecano 2–1 in a fiercely contested La Liga clash that swung on fine margins and late drama at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The night took an early turn when Jude Bellingham was forced off injured inside ten minutes, disrupting Madrid’s rhythm despite their territorial control. Vinícius Júnior gave the hosts the lead, but Rayo refused to be overawed, matching Madrid’s intensity and gradually growing into the contest.

That pressure was rewarded early in the second half when Jorge de Frutos struck a deserved equaliser, setting up a tense finale. The balance finally tilted in Madrid’s favour after Pathé Ciss was shown a straight red card in the 80th minute, with Kylian Mbappé converting the resulting penalty to seal a hard-fought win rather than a comfortable one. Sportsdunia brings you the Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano player ratings from this dramatic La Liga encounter.

Key Takeaways

• Jude Bellingham injury inside 10 minutes disrupted Real Madrid’s midfield structure and rhythm.
• Vallecano showed character, responding to Vinícius Jr.’s opener with a deserved second-half equaliser.
• Pathé Ciss’ red card proved decisive, allowing Mbappé’s penalty to secure all three points for Madrid.

Real Madrid Player Ratings vs Rayo Vallecano

Check out Real Madrid player ratings from the game:

Goalkeeper

Thibaut Courtois - 6.5: He couldn't do much about the goal he conceded. Made three important saves, including a great stop to deny Álvaro García in the first half. A solid, if unspectacular, performance from the Belgian giant. He commanded his area well enough.

Defenders

Federico Valverde - 8.0: Our man of the match. What an engine this guy has. He was absolutely everywhere, winning eight duels and making seven crucial clearances. He also created two chances, constantly driving his team forward. A true captain's performance, leading by example with tireless running and defensive grit.

Eduardo Camavinga - 7.5: A defensive monster tonight. We noticed his 14 ball recoveries, a staggering number that shows how he dominated the space in front of the defense. He was desperately unlucky to see his header hit the post late on. His energy and tackling were vital for Madrid.

Dean Huijsen - 6.5: Played 77 minutes and looked composed for the most part. His passing was crisp, with 90% accuracy, but he lost a few key duels. He was involved in the build-up play but sometimes seemed a step behind the attackers. A decent learning experience for him.

Raúl Asencio - 6.0: Only lasted for the first half before being substituted. He was tidy in possession with a 100% pass completion rate, but he wasn't really tested. A quiet and short-lived appearance, so it's hard to give a comprehensive rating.

Midfielders

Jude Bellingham - N/A: A heartbreakingly short outing. He was forced off with an injury after just 10 minutes. We can't rate his performance, but his absence was certainly felt throughout the match. Hopefully, the injury isn't too serious.

Aurélien Tchouaméni - 7.0: The quiet controller in midfield. He kept things ticking over with 90% pass accuracy and made some key defensive contributions. He wasn't flashy, but he provided the stability that allowed others to push forward. A solid, disciplined game.

Arda Güler - 7.5: Looked like Madrid's most creative spark for large parts of the match. He created two chances, including one big one, and always looked to break the lines. His vision and technical skill were on full display before he was substituted after 77 minutes. A very promising performance.

Franco Mastantuono - 6.0: The youngster showed some good touches and drew a couple of fouls. However, he also lost possession a bit too easily and struggled to impose himself on the game. He was subbed off after an hour, having shown glimpses of potential but little end product.

Forwards

Vinicius Junior - 7.5: A classic Vini performance. He scored a well-taken goal to give his side the lead and was a constant threat with his pace. On the other hand, he lost possession 20 times, which is frustrating to watch. His end product won them the game in one moment, but he needs to be more consistent.

Kylian Mbappé - 7.0: He was the hero in the end, scoring the winning penalty with ice in his veins. But it wasn't his best game. He missed a big chance, hit the woodwork, and lost six duels. We expected more from him in open play, but he delivered when it mattered most.

Manager

Á. Arbeloa Coca - 7.0: His team secured the victory, which is the bottom line. He had to adapt early due to Bellingham's injury and his side looked vulnerable to Rayo's spirit. But his substitutions helped change the game, and he ultimately found a way to grind out a crucial win at home.

Rayo Vallecano Player Ratings vs Real Madrid

Here are the Rayo Vallecano Player Ratings from the match against Real Madrid:

Goalkeeper

Augusto Batalla - 6.5: Made three saves and couldn't be faulted for either goal, especially the penalty. He looked solid for most of the game. However, picking up a yellow card for dissent or time-wasting was an unnecessary distraction for his team.

Defenders

Andrei Rațiu - 6.0: A tireless performance, but with mixed results. He was constantly running up and down the flank but lost possession 18 times and was dispossessed on four occasions. He even missed a big chance. What stood out to us was his effort, even if the quality wasn't always there.

Pep Chavarría - 6.5: A solid defensive shift with a last-man tackle and three successful tackles. His passing was reliable, but he also committed three fouls and earned a yellow card. He was aggressive, maybe a little too aggressive at times, but he held his own against a top attack.

Florian Lejeune - 7.0: A rock at the heart of the defense. He made seven clearances and was a commanding presence throughout. His distribution from the back was also impressive. From our perspective, he was one of Rayo's best players, a true leader under pressure.

Nobel Mendy - 5.5: It's a game of moments, and his moment was a disaster. Conceding the penalty that lost his team the game overshadows his six clearances and four duels won. It was a rash challenge that proved incredibly costly. A tough lesson for the defender.

Midfielders

Pathé Ciss - 4.0: A truly terrible night for the midfielder. His straight red card in the 80th minute was inexcusable and completely killed his team's momentum. Before that, he was having an average game, but that single act of recklessness let his entire team down. The worst performer on the pitch.

Isi Palazón - 5.5: As the captain, we expected so much more from him. He was largely anonymous, losing eight of his nine duels and offering very little creativity. He seemed to struggle with the pace of the game and was a passenger for long spells. A really disappointing showing.

Álvaro García - 7.5: He was brilliant before being substituted after 77 minutes. He provided a clever headed assist for the goal and his direct running caused Madrid problems all night. Rayo definitely lost a major threat when he went off the pitch. His energy was infectious.

Gerard Gumbau - 6.5: A very steady presence in his 56 minutes on the field. He kept the ball well and even forced a save with a shot from distance. His substitution seemed to disrupt Rayo's rhythm in the midfield. A solid and composed performance.

Forwards

Jorge de Frutos - 7.5: What a performance in just 56 minutes. He took his goal brilliantly and created two other chances for his teammates. He was a constant livewire, and it was a genuine surprise to see him substituted so early. He was Rayo's most effective attacking player by a mile.

Ilias Akhomach - 7.0: A very lively and tricky player who caused Madrid's defense a lot of headaches. He won an impressive eight duels and drew four fouls, showing how difficult he was to handle. His final product could have been better, but his effort and skill were undeniable.

Manager

I. Pérez Soto - 6.5: You have to feel for him. He set his team up perfectly to frustrate Real Madrid, and for 80 minutes, the plan worked. His side showed courage and quality, and truly deserved a point from this game. He can't be blamed for the individual mistakes that ultimately cost them the match.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match was Federico Valverde.

Worst Performer

Pathé Ciss was the worst performer in the Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano.