Real Madrid moved one step closer to La Liga triumph as they edged 11th-place Rayo Vallecano away from home. It was hardly a vintage performance from Jose Mourinho's men, with plenty of chances going to the hosts, but a neat long-range backheel from Cristiano Ronaldo was enough to see them get the three points and extend their lead at the top of the table to thirteen points.
Rayo Vallecano Vs. Real Madrid, 2012 La Liga: Real Struggle, But Win Anyway
By the time Ronaldo had given the visitors the lead, Rayo could have been ahead 1-0, with only the width of the post separating the hosts from a goal after Piti had done excellent work in beating both Alvaro Arbeloa and Iker Casillas.
Even after Ronaldo’s goal, the hosts were in a fairly promising position, but some last-ditch defending, a red card to Michu* and more Rayo wasted chances meant that the leaders managed to escape with all three points.
*It was a pretty normal challenge on Sami Khedira. Not entirely sure why it was worthy of a straight red.
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