Rayo Vallecano - Real Madrid summary: score, goals and highlights, LaLiga Santander

Rayo Vallecano taught Real Madrid a lesson in intensity and discipline

On a night when most would have expected Real Madrid to take the three points that were up for grabs, it was glaringly clear from the first kick of the ball that such a task would be very complicated to complete.

Playing at home, Rayo Vallecano were all over their city neighbors for the entirety of the match. Often storming down the left side - Dani Carvajal's responsibility - Isi Palazon and Sergio Camello were pulling strings all night, with a mixture of incredible work ethic and classy play in tight spaces. Yet, mention should also be made of Fran Garcia and Santi Comesaña. Indeed, it was those two who provided the first goal of the night after some intricate play on the left. Comesaña met Garcia's cross perfectly at the penalty spot and with a side footed finish, guided the ball into the bottom right corner of Courtois' goal.

From there, los 'Franjirrojos' continued to pile on the pressure and in truth looked likely to increase their lead, but against the run of play Madrid equalized through Luka Modric, who converted a penalty after Marco Asensio was controversially fouled. Not long after, the home side found themselves behind after Éder Militão produced a stellar header off of a corner to beat Stole Dimitrievski in Rayo's goal.

That moment only seemed to spur Rayo to even greater levels of intensity. Just minutes later, it was Alvaro Garcia who leveled the score with a thunderous shot from the left side of Madrid's goal. Though Courtois managed to get a hand to the ball, the force of the shot was too great and so he could only deflect it into the roof of the net. Ultimately, with just over 20 minutes left and minus their coach - Andoni Iraola was shown a red card on the bench - Rayo put in a defensively disciplined shift to close out the game. On top of that, they were then rewarded when an isolated Dani Carvajal clearly handled the ball in the area when faced with Isi Palazon.  Oscar Trejo would be the man tasked with the resulting penalty and curiously, actually had to take it twice after the referee penalized Courtois for moving too early.

Madrid for their part was not necessarily poor in the game, but rather overawed to a certain extent by the wave after wave of Rayo pressure. One has to wonder if Rayo haven't put the rest of the league on notice with their surprise win. They came into the game saying they had no reason to fear Madrid and it was definitely a case of 'so said, so done' on the night. With that, we wish you farewell and we hope you enjoyed our live text coverage of Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid which ended 3-2 in Rayo's favor.

It's all over folks! Rayo Vallecano have pulled off what most would have thought impossible before a ball was kicked. That's five wins on the trot along with the scalp of a footballing giant. You can see clearly what the win means to the players, coaches and of course the fans, who are now in full chorus around the stadium.

Rayo will have one final free kick and surely that will be all she wrote. The fans are extatic!

Rayo break down the left side of the field and have managed to win a corner. We're in the final minute of stoppage time now folks.

The fans are in full song now as a little more than a minute of stoppage time remains and the lead is still 3-2.

The corner will be retaken and Courtois is now in the box to assist his team. In the end, it comes to nothing and Valverde's attempt is blasted into the stands. Unfortunately in his effort he collided with Rayo's defender who is currently being walked off the field.

After some frantic play in the box, Madrid will have another corner!

Rayo with the throw from the right side deep in Madrid's half, but they fail to retain the ball and Madrid break down the right through Rodrygo. Vinicius on the left is again the target, but his cross is blocked. The ball then falls to Asensio but his shot is blocked!. Madrid will have a corner.

Madrid works the ball around Rayo's area and you can feel the tension, but in the end Vinicius Jr. makes the wrong choice to shoot from outside the box and his effort sails into the stands.

Rayo will restrart with a goal kick as time continues to tick away.

Pep Chavarria (Rayo) is booked for giving the referee a little too much chat.

We're now in the 90th minute and believe it or not we will have 8 minutes of stoppage time.

Down the left side they go and dangerous cross comes in from Asensio. Unbelievably, Rodrygo puts the ball over the net at point blank range. That would have been 3-3. You can see on the Brazilian's face that he knows that was a key opportunity lost.

Madrid's free kick is cleared and they will have a throw from the right side.One can sense the desperation now as they stare a defeat in the face.

Rayo with a double substitution. Isi Palazon goes off for Pep Chavarria and Sergio Camello is replaced by Radamel Falcao.

Malliu has finally got into the referee's book. The Rayo defender has been in the wars all night.

Rayo will resume with a throw from the right side of the field, but it's promptly given away at which point they commit a foul. Madrid to restart with a free kick.

Nacho enters for Mendy and Carvajal goes off for Lucas Vasquez.

Madrid is enjoying a great deal of possession now, but just can't find that clinical pass. They will make another change however.

Bit by bit Madrid seem to be running out of ideas, as the ball is booted to long to Rayo's waiting keeper. Unfortunately, he does the same and Courtois recollects on the other side. Madrid will go once again.

Incredibly, Rayo don't appear to be settling for a calm close to this match and instead are still trying to attack.

We've got 10 minutes left in this one, plus stoppage time. For the moment Rayo are protecting their 3-2 lead and quite frankly, they look good value for it.

Rayo make their own change, with Santi Comesana replaced by Pathe Ciss

Madrid with another change, as Modric leaves for Mariano

Camavinga passes to nobody and to the enjoyment of the home team and its fans, Rayo have a throw from the right side.

Madrid attempt to carve a chance through some intricate one-touch passing in front Rayo's area, but Asensio's shot is tame and the keeper claims it calmly.

Following a deep run, Asensio sees his cross blocked and Madrid will have a corner, which in turn is too deep.

We've arrived at the 75th minute and incredibly, Rayo are maintaining their level of intensity and now break through Camello. In the end after some decent play in front the area, Isi is set for a shot, but it's easily blocked and Madrid break.

Rayo with the throw deep in Madrid territory. Again Isi the architect on the right side.

Madrid enjoying some possession now, but Rayo is nipping at their heals. A deep cross falls to Carvajal, but his shot goes wide and the hosts will have a goal kick.

Madrid are at sixes and sevens now and narrowly avoid what would have been a catastrophic error in front of their area. In the end Rayo come out with a corner, but it's too deep and Madrid survive.

Rayo make a change of their own with Unai Lopez entering for the goal scorer, Oscar Trejo.

Camavinga has entered the game for Madrid, replacing Aurelien Tchouameni

The stadium is in full song now and Rayo have got their tails up. Can they hold on to the lead with just over 20 minutes plus stoppage time left?

This game has it all! The penalty will be repeated after the Belgian is deemed to have left his line too early! Here we go again!

We've got a penalty, but incredibly Courtois saves it! We're still tied at 2-2!

The corner is too deep and Rayo break. A long ball is played to the Rayo foward who cuts on Carvajal, who appears to handle the ball. After massive appeal around the stadium, the referee has gone to check the VAR. This should be a penalty.

Amidst the drama, we've got a Real Madrid corner from the right side. Rayo haven't been strong on corners so they will need to focus.

Rayo's coach Andoni Iraola has been expelled from the match. While we're not sure as to what he said on the bench, it's clear it was something the officials didn't like.

Fran Garcia apparently has no problem shooting from 40 yards, as Courtois just found out. Officials say the Belgian didn't touch the ball, but replays leave doubt.

We're almost at the 60th minute mark and we're still tied at 2-2 in this La Liga match between Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid. Will we have a winner in this all Madrid match, or will the spoils be shared?

Madrid are driving forward, but are quickly dispossessed and Rayo launch a counter down the lef. The play ends with a dangerous cross from that dreaded left side, but Camello's header goes agonizingly wide.

Sergio Cabello has put on a clinic in defensive midfield work for Rayo tonight.

Carvajal has unfortunately gone down with what seems to be a muscular problem. Encouragingly, he's walked off on his own steam, but we'll have to keep an eye on him. The veteran is currently waiting to return to the field.

Again Rayo with possession. At no point have they looked overawed by their opponents. With that, they will have a corner from the left side. Madrid will need to stay focused.

The crowd is definitely in this one now after a series of heavy challenges, one of which looked very much like a penalty shout for Rayo Vallecano in Madrid's area. The referee, however, appears to want none of it.

Rayo with a throw from the left side, but Madrid manage to clear. Isi once again shows his class with a deft control from a high-arching ball in front of Madrid's area. The crowd appreciated that.

An unfortunate collision between Militao and Cabello results in a foul, but there was no intention.

Rayo are enjoying an extended period of possession at the moment and are playing some extremely intricate football. With reverse passes and dummies to boot, they are really having a go.

Down the right side Rayo go, but the path is closed and as such they work the ball around the back of their defense and once again surge forward.

There are subs warming up for both sides. Surely changes will need to be made given the speed at which the teams have been playing.

Fran Garcia puts down a lovely nutmeg on Valverde who can only look on in dismay.

After some tidy play, Madrid mount a counter through Asensio who finds Rodrygo to his left on the edge of the box, but the Brazilian's shot again sails into the night air.

Again Rayo are going with a high press and again it appears to have Madrid rattled. Militao attempts to play to the left wing to escape the pressure, but his ball is too long and Rayo have the throw.

Rayo get us going and immediately look to start with a long ball into Madrid's area. It seems we're set for another high-octane period of football.

How has it been so far

With 57% of the possession, Madrid has statistically been in 'control' of the game, but truth be told the reality on the field has been quite different. Vallecano has shown no fear of their guests and at times have actually outplayed them. With that said, the 2nd half is about to start so lets go!

That's how you score!

If you're going to do something, then do it right and that's exactly what Rayo did for their second goal of the game. A blistering shot from Palazon left Courtois no chance and with that scores were level.

Militao puts Madrid ahead

Was there a foul on the play? Either way you cut it, the Merengues' defender more than rose to the occasion. His header was quite exceptional actually.

Rayo Vallecano's first goal

After some tidy play down the left side, Rayo produced this deft finish to take a 1-0 lead over Real Madrid

With literally the last kick of the half, Militao launches a long ball into Rayo's area and Vinicius Jr's touch on the ball just isn't good enough to guide it into the net. Rayo and their fans will be breathing a sigh of relief.

Rayo will have the free kick which will surely be the last of the half.

A cynical foul by Vini who has already received a card.

Madrid have possession and are trying to close out the half safely, but they've given it away and Rayo start a counter.

We're going to have 3 minutes of extra time and it appears Rayo want more, but Madrid escape yet again with Vinicius Jr. down the left side.

To their credit, Rayo are sticking to their task and have gone back to working the left side. Carvajal is lucky to come out with the ball, but promptly gives it away for a throw.

Carvajal is found on the right and sees his low cross blocked. Madrid will have a corner as we head into the final 5 minutes of regulation time.

Playing around the back, Madrid are attempting to control the rhythm of the game, something they've failed to do so far.

A bit of wind has been sucked from Rayo's sails, but they can't rest on their laurels for even a moment if they hope to get something from this game. Madrid are as dangerous as it gets and have now leveled the score.

We've got a penalty folks! After a VAR review, Madrid will have a penalty and with it a chance to tie the game at 1-1. Luka Modric is the man with the responsibility.

The Madrid players are now asking for a VAR review of the play and it appears as though the referee - through his ear piece - is being told to do so. He's now left the field to go to the sideline where he will review. Could we have a penalty for Madrid?

Decent possession by Madrid. Asensio  is played into the area and goes down demanding a penalty. The referee is having none of it and play will resume with a Rayo goal kick.

Rayo are doing an excellent job of containing Madrid, who for the moment ahve been limited to shots from range, most of which have found fans in the stands as opposed to the goal.

Isi Palazon (Rayo) unleashes a fierce effort, but it's towards the middle of the goal. With that said Courtois makes a mess of it and can only deflect it. Luckily their is no Rayo player following up.d he's equal to it.

Rayo once again maraud down the left side and their low cross into the box finds Cabello, but unfortunately he handles the ball as he attempts to control it in front of goal and Madrid live to fight another day.

The game appears to have levelled out somewhat at this point but that is nothing to do with the velocity of it.

Madrid's free kick goes wanting and Rayo will have a goal kick.

A heavy foul on Vinicius Jr. down the left side and in truth it should have been a card for Rayo's player who appears to have slapped the Brazilian in the face. Free kick to Madrid.

Rodrygo attempts a tempting cross-field pass to Carvajal down the right side, but the ball is too long, Rayo's goal kick.

Mendy with a cheeky dribble on Camello, but he's fouled for it and proceeds to laugh it off.

A long ball from Asensio goes begging and Rayo will have a throw from deep in their own half on the right side. Real Madrid are attempting to box them in. Balliu to throw.

If not for Militao's inch perfect headed interception, we'd again be looking at 2-0 following a dangerous cross from the left side of the box. Madrid is not doing well defending their left flank.

After dispossessing Rodrygo in midfield, Rayo attempt to spring a counter immediately, but the ball is intercepted by Militao in defense and good thing too.

From the back Madrid once again have to play with Courtois as they find space increasingly hard to locate.

We mentioned the pace and whether the teams could maintain it. For the moment, Rayo is doing just that.

Madrid will have a throw from the right side, as they attempt to find a way in. Modric sprays the ball to the left, but uncharacteristically, it's two far ahead for Mendy to catch it. Rayo with the throw.

Madrid will start from the back once again. With Rayo's press they are being forced into to playing repeatedly with Courtois in goal.

'Tidy,' that's the word that applies to Rayo at the moment. Indeed they are playing some excellent football as they continue to hold onto their 1-0 lead. Playing from left to right and back home when necessary, the Madrid based outfit is showing both patience and creativity.

Freekick to Rayo from the right side, but the ball is cleared out for a throw by Rodrygo, who appears to be worse for wear after the impact of the ball. The referee is checking on him.

Even the great Luka Modric is finding it extremely tough going, as he's forced into committing a foul in midfield after being robbed of the ball. Rayo are most definitely not messing around in this one.

Things are getting crazier by the moment. After some excellent play, Rayo once again expose Madrid down the left and if not for Courtois' excellent stop, the score would be 2-0

Vinicius Jr's frustration gets the better of him as he's escorted from the scene of the crime by Ancelotti himself. The Brazilian has received a yellow for his foul on the Rayo player.

Madrid are trying to find their feet, but the frantic pressure being applied by Rayo is making life very difficult. With that, it's Fede Valverde who unleashes a fierce effort, but it's wide.

Rayo are playing a high press and it appears to be working. After dispossessing Madrid in front of their own box, a shot is unleashed and in truth, isn't too far from the mark. Goal kick to Madrid

Madrid have upped the tempo and it's Militao who has a go at the goal, but his shot sails high into the night sky.

In the end it's Rodrygo who does the honors, but the Brazilian's effort threatens only the fans in the upper rows behind the goal.

On their first attack, Madrid find Vinicius Jr. down the left side. The Brazilian is promptly felled after cutting inside and Madrid will now have a dangerous free kick from the left corner of the box. Rodrygo and Modrid stand over the ball.

It's a full house here in Madrid and their is an intense pace to the game from the very start. Whether the sides can maintain this throughout will be interesting to see.

We're off and running here in the capital, as Real Madrid wearing their away strip of all black, begin with the ball.

Kickoff is upon us

The players are making their way on to the field as we speak. Needless to say this is actually quite an important fixture for all involved. Rayo have a chance to maintain their winning ways, while cementing a spot on the right side of the table. Madrid on the other hand will be looking to reaffirm their status as top dogs. Here we go!

Rayo Vallecano are on the up

With their last outing a 1-0 win over Sevilla, Rayo Vallecano are currently on a four-game winning streak and now sit in the top half of the table. Can they continue that run of form against their more illustrious neighbours? Stay with us to find out!

There's a Tiger on the loose

Radamel 'El Tigre' Falcao is no stranger to big games and most definitely knows his way in front of goal. Could the Colombian be the architect of an upset tonight? While the answer to that question remains uncertain, one thing that goes without saying, is that Rayo Vallecano's chances at victory will rest squarely on his shoulders.

How do they stand right now?

As you probably already guessed, Real Madrid has dominated this tie over the years. On the other hand, Rayo Vallecano have proven themselves to be a team that can run with the big boys, so don't be surprised if they offer up a surprise tonight!

The last time they met, Madrid got a 1-0 win away from home, which is to say expect Rayo to go all out to redeem that failure. In case you're wondering, the last time Rayo got the better of Madrid was way back in 1992, when they won by a score of 2-0.

No Benzema? No Problem

As mentioned before, Los Blancos won't be able to count on the services are Karim Benzema tonight, but when looking at their goal haul for the season so far, it likely won't matter. With the likes of Vinicius Jr. and Fede Valverde in sensational form, Carlo Ancelotti's team has had no problems finding the back of the net. Indeed, Madrid have scored almost double the amount that their opponent has and truth be told, will probably add to that tally tonight. Stay with us!

Spreading the Wealth

Though their prestigious opponents have scored almost double the amount of goals that they have, the one positive for Rayo Vallecano is that they have seen several players get on the scoresheet this campaign. With that in mind, they will be hoping to threaten Madrid with more than just Isi Pilazon's efforts.

Real Madrid's starting 11

With Balon d'Or winner Karim Benzema still sidelined, the 'merengues' will be relying on their young star, Rodrygo up front. With a chance to secure their lead in the league, expect the reigning European champions to lay down a marker tonight against their Madrid based neighbors.

How it stands: Madrid

Going into this season, Real Madrid were favourites to retain the title they won at a canter last time around. They remain the team to beat but eternal rivals Barcelona -- unlike Atlético -- are putting up a decent showing and will look to go the distance.

Tonight's game will have both of Spain's big boys having played 13 and only a win will lift Ancelotti's side to the summit again.

How it stands: Rayo

Last week's victory over Sevilla was a reminder, if needed, to the capital giants that Rayo can be a tough opponent for anyone. Add to that the fact that the side managed by Andoni Iraola are unbeaten in four and sit in ninth place with a very respectable five wins already under their belt.

A home win tonight is unlikely given the opposition, but certainly not outwith the realms of possibility.

Let's have a look at how the two teams sit coming into this game...

Madrid making moves

Los Blancos arrive in Vallecas with one simple objective: three points. Nothing else will suffice and given the recent wobbles, their fans could really do with a convincing performance.

Rayo relishing Real wreckage

Yeah, you can throw in a silent consonant when doing your alliterations, before you ask.

The local fans -- those not protesting about the president by staying away, at least -- will be hoping to see this type of image come full time.

SOCCER

Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid: how to watch on TV, stream online in US/UK and around the world, LaLiga

This game kicks off at 3 p.m. ET / 12 noon PT, (that’s 9 p.m. local Spanish time) and we've knocked up this handy little guide with some viewing details in case you're into that sort of thing to complement your time here with me.

Rayo vs Real Madrid live: welcome

Hello and a very warm welcome on a rather chilly evening in Madrid as we settle ourselves down for another game in LaLiga Santander.

It's not often that the Real Madrid are handed a Monday night fixture but Carlo Ancelotti and co. will be pleased to know that this away trip doesn't involve leaving the Spanish capital. Rayo Vallecano play host to the reigning champions and have the potential to cause an upset, but more on that later.

My name is Calum and I'll be here to take you through to the final whistle with as much insight as I can muster. It's nice to have you aboard...