Real Madrid triumphed 2-0 in a game of two halves away at Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday. Los Merengues struggled throughout the first period, though a much improved performance in the second was capped by goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodríguez.
Rayo Vallecano vs. Real Madrid 2015: Final score 0-2, Merengues see off stubborn Vallecanos
Rayo were typically lively, but eventually succumbed to their cross-town rivals.
Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images
Rayo set the for their thrilling first half display in the opening exchanges, starting with an energy their opponents struggled to contain. Real Madrid did manage to respond with two chances in the first 10 minutes, though after Cristiano Ronaldo volleyed wide and James Rodríguez fired a Dani Carvajal cross straight at David Cobeño, it was almost one-way traffic.
The hosts were intense in their pressing and quick on the ball, and started to dominate the game. After a quarter of an hour Alberto Bueno forced Iker Casillas into a save from distance, before Manucho was denied by the veteran shot stopper on a corner just past the half hour. The best chance of all fell to Roberto Trashorras at the back post on the stroke of halftime, though Casillas was on hand to beat his header away.
The second half begun in similar fashion, though Real really ought to have been awarded a penalty just five minutes after the restart. Ronaldo was sent through on the counter-attack, only to be blatantly tripped in the box by defender Antonio Amaya. However, instead of awarding the spot-kick, the referee adjudged the attacker to have dived, and handed him a yellow card.
The visitors nevertheless looked increasingly dangerous as Rayo began to tire, with Marcelo and Bale both firing low shots wide in quick succession. Before long, Real were in total control, and with just over 20 minutes left, had a reward. Some excellent work by Carvajal down the right culminated in him crossing the ball for Ronaldo, who headed home from point-blank range.
Rayo responded within minutes with a powerful long-range effort by Nacho, though his low shot was beaten to safety by Casillas. That paved the way for Rodríguez to double Real’s lead from the edge of the area with less than 20 minutes remaining, sealing the points for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Rayo Vallecano: Cobeño; Nacho, Amaya, Castro, Tito; Trashorras, Fatau (Jozabed 57’); Embarba (Aquino 82’), Bueno (Miku 69’), Kakuta; Manucho.
Goals: None.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Marcelo, Ramos, Varane, Carvajal; James, Kroos, Modrić; Ronaldo, Benzema (Isco 72’), Bale (Hernández 90+1’).
Goals: Ronaldo (68’), James (74’).
See More:
