Rayo Vallecano - Real Madrid summary: score, goals & highlights, LaLiga EA Sports

Let's leave it there!

Thanks for tuning into the live feed of a fantastic game in LaLiga!

Joe

How things look at the top:

After the draw, Girona have the chance to creep closer to Real Madrid and cut down the lead that their title rivals has built up.

Full-time thoughts:

Iñigo Pérez comes away from his first game as Rayo Vallecano boss witha point against Real Madrid, who were stifled for the majority of the tie.

Los Blancos started well and got an early goal thanks to Joselu, who tapped in past Dimitrievski after a lightning-fast counter attack. 

From then on, Real Madrid continued to dominate and looked extremely comfortable on and off the ball, with Rayo struggling to keep up. 

But it all changed with a handball from Camavinga, who saw Trejo's shot hit his arm and R.D.T smashed in a penalty that got his side back into the game.

The two teams finished the half even in terms of dominance as Rayo grew in confidence. After the break, neither team managed to assert their dominance and few chances came as both sides cancelled each other out well.

GAME OVER!

Rayo hold Real Madrid to a draw for the second time this season.

De Frutos can't control the ball as it is slid through a gap in the Madrid defence and the Rayo fans gasp in unison. We're over the added time limit...

Vinicius, who has had a difficult game, races up the left and floats a cross towards the back post. Rayo see it out.

A second yellow for the right-back, who lashed out at Kike Pérez after the forward grabbed his shirt.

CARVAJAL SENT OFF

Carvajal receives from Kross, takes it forward, cuts inside on his left and goes for goal. A strange decision that ends with an extremely easy save.

Güler goes up against Espino on the right wing and thinks he's won a corner, only for the linesman to give a goal kick, which Dimitrievski won't rush.

Aridane clears again as the ball falls kindly at the feet of Rodrygo. Rayo race forward before realising they're all incredibly tired and their legs don't actually work.

6 added minutes.

Valverde meets Kike's cross from the left as the game officially declares itself broken. Both teams are throwing everything forward.

Rayo clear as Madrid pile 50 players into the box. Aridane swipes the ball from the dancing feet of Güler and sends the ball high into the air.

The Rayo fans are making a sensational noise as Arda Güler gets his first touches of the ball in the middle third. He's pressed instantly and loses possession.

Real Madrid are keeping possession as they try various options in order to get through Rayo's resilient defensive block.

Another change for Real Madrid:

OFF: Modric

ON: Güler

Tchouaméni does well to clear a long ball that is dropping over his head seconds before swiping at a cross that could well have found its way past Lunin.

Arda Güler will be the next player to get some minutes on the pitch.

After a long wait, Aridane heads away Kroos' corner.

Rayo changes:

OFF: R.D.T., Álvaro

ON: Camello, Falcao

Kroos went for goal, curling the effort around the wall which was sent behind by the goalkeeper.

SAVE FROM DIMITRIEVSKI

As we enter the final 10, Real Madrid have a free-kick on the right, around 30 yards from goal.

Kroos has given Real Madrid just what they've been lacking in this half: a different option out from the back.

The German is already dictating play from that typical 'quarterback' position we're so used to seeing him occupy.

We are into the final 15 minutes of the game and Real Madrid need to find a spark from somewhere. Rayo seem happy to sit and defend in their mid-block.

A change at right-back:

OFF: Lucas 

ON: Carvajal

Rodrygo breaks down the right and plays square to Vinicius, but Rayo are in line and clear the ball.

We've already seen the effect of the changes: Kroos slots into centre-back and sends Nacho to left-back, which pushes Fran García up the wing and Vini Jr inside.

Kroos sends Fran García running down the wing with a searching ball, but the full-back can't get the cross in.

Kroos and Modric are in a midfield three alongside Fede Valverde. Rodrygo is on the right, Vini on the left and Joselu up front.

Ancelotti shuffles the pack:

OFF: Brahim, Camavinga

ON: Rodrygo, Kroos

Rodrygo is about to come on for Real Madrid, as is Toni Kroos.

Vinicius, in search of a touch of the ball, floats all the way over the right where he is immediately tackled.

Nacho heads away a cross from the right as Rayo launch an attack. The intensity in the game has dropped over the last few minutes.

More Rayo changes:

OFF: Unai López, Trejo

ON: Crespo, Kike Pérez

Camavinga is booked and he will miss Real Madrid's next game (Sevilla).

Vinicius wants a penalty but the referee is having none of it.

He thinks Ballius grabbed his shirt, which he may have done as the cross came in, but it certainly wasn't enough to go down like a dying swan.

We've had an hour of football and Real Madrid are just beginning to creep back into things as they put Rayo under pressure for the first time this half.

Dimitrievski saves as Joselu pokes a shot towards goal. It was set up by a nice run from Brahim, who managed to break the lines with a daring dribble through the middle.

There's not a lot of movement ahead of Lunin, who rolls the ball under his boot. Modric points for him to go long as the options look extremely limited.

Espino's pass out wide towards Álvaro is too heavy and Rayo's positive move breaks down as Real Madrid scramble back.

Rayo forced into change due to injury:

OFF: Isi

ON: Jorge de Frutos

Simple passes are going astray for the away side: Fran García fizzes a 2-yard ball into the feet of Vinicius Jr, who can't control it and loses out in the Rayo half.

Real Madrid are far from comfortable and look, dare I say it, a little out of ideas.

Tchouaméni, with time and space at the back, opts for an aimless long ball behind the Rayo defence that Vinicius was never going to reach.

Camavinga dribbles down the right and threads a pass square to Brahim, who sees his shot from inside the box blocked and sent over the bar.

We're underway and Álvaro is back on the pitch.

We're still waiting on Álvaro to get up. It looks like he was caught on the nose during his battle with Tchouaméni.

Álvaro is down holding his face.

Tchouaméni gets it all wrong at the back and tries to spin away from Álvaro on his own. The Rayo winger tackles the defender and shoots on goal, but Tchouaméni manages to block the effort.

HUGE CHANCE FOR RAYO

Carvajal, Rodrygo and Ceballos are all warming up on the sideline.

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY!

Rayo get the ball rolling.

No changes for either side.

We're waiting on Rayo's XI. Real Madrid's players are all on the pitch.

Here come the players!

It looks like Ancelotti has kept his XI the same for the second half.

Bellingham enjoyed the goal!

The Englishman sent a message to Joselu after the Spaniard copied his now iconic celebration, stretching his arms out wide to the Madrid fans.

It looked simple for Real Madrid

Between Joselu putting the ball in the back of the net and Raúl de Tomás' penalty, things were going smoothly for Los Blancos.

Half-time thoughts:

De más a menos, as they say in Spanish: from more to less.

Real Madrid were in cruise control after an early goal from Joselu put them ahead. The Rayo press was being beaten by lightning-fast counters as the away side threatened time and time again. 

But it all changed when a Rayo attack was put over the bar by Camavinga's arm and R.D.T. duly thundered in the spot kick.

From then on, it was all Rayo, who pressed like madmen and looked the likelier side of the two to add to the scoreboard.

HALF-TIME!

And the Rayo players are furious as they think that they were on the attack. Iñigo Pérez races over to tell his squad to get down the tunnel. 

Vinicius is brought down by Balliu, who gets a booking for stopping the attack as the winger took a touch round him and looked to be away.

Small fouls are breaking up the play as the clock ticks on towards half-time.

Isi gets a booking for a late challenge close to Lunin's goal. The winger had lost possession after a mazy run down the wing but eventually saw it robbed from his feet by Camavinga.

4 added minutes.

We're into the final minute of normal time.

Modric is robbed in the middle of the pitch and Álvaro screams down the left wing before thundering a low effort from a tight angle at Lunin, who saves well.

LUNIN SAVE

The last 60 seconds has seen small fouls break up the play and the game has become a little jagged as fatigue creeps in.

Tchouaméni goes down in the box and the referee blows his whistle... but it's for an offside against Joselu.

The counter-attack works again for the away side and Fran García wins his team a corner.

Balliu is offside and the flag is raised but once again, it's a delightful passing move from Rayo, who have found their mojo and are causing Madrid's players to spin around in circles.

Fran García does well to step up and intercept Isi's pass down the wing towards Balliu, who had made an adventurous run towards goal.

Rayo defend a corner which lands at the feet of Fede Valverde on the edge of the box, who smashes the dropping ball with all high might towards goal. Dimitrievski saves.

CHANCE FOR MADRID

The spaces have opened up between Real Madrid's defensive line and Rayo's players are slotting in the gaps perfectly. The home side come again and a cross if deflected into Lunin's grateful grasp once again.

Vini Jr gives his team a breather as he takes it upon himself to race down the left wing and take the ball as far away as possible from Lunin.

Real Madrid's goal is hugely under threat right now, as the home side are flying at them from all sides and making a meal of their makeshift defence.

'Oooos' and 'Aaas' from the crowd as Rayo come again and Trejo stings Lunin's palms with a shot from inside the box.

Nacho heads away a cross from Álvaro, who seems to have realised that he has the beating of Lucas down Madrid's right side.

Back underway and now the stadium is properly bouncing!

It's R.D.T who is taking the spot kick.

And just like that, Rayo have a huge chance to get back into the game.

PENALTY GIVEN!

Camavinga's hand was slightly away from his body as the ball smashed it and deflected over from close range.

The referee is going to the screen!

We've got a VAR check for a potential penalty. Camavinga handball under review.

The left side of Rayo Vallecano - Espino and Álvaro - work well to beat Lucas on the wing. 

The cross comes in and finds Trejo on the penalty spot, who sees his shot deflected over the bar.

RAYO CHANCE

Lunin spoons a clearance out of play and gets a sarcastic cheer from the Rayo fans behind him. 

Rayo's intensity has picked up slightly and they're putting their opponents under some sustained pressure.

The confidence of Ancelotti's side however, is flying high, and they're happy to pass around the white shirts.

Álvaro can't direct his touch towards goal as Rayo come out of nowhere and Balliu sends a dangerous cross in from the right.

The ball is in the back of the net but the referee has his hand up as the ball went out of play in the buildup. Rayo were extremely passive as Fede played to Lucas on the right, who went on a mazy run towards goal.

He crossed to Joselu who headed into an empty net, but the replay shows that the full-back did indeed run the ball out as he did his best impression of Alfredo DI Stéfano.

Real Madrid look extremely comfortable so far, and they're picking their moments to attack and keep controlled possession in the middle third.

Carlo looks relaxed on the bench, and is chewing away in the sun.

Espino goes on a determined run down the left wing and thinks he's fouled by Lucas, but the tackle was legal by the right-back, who did well to stop the danger.

A half-chance for Los Blancos as Joselu heads Lucas' cross back across goal from the far post. Unfortunately for the away side, it's Aridane who gets a huge boot under the ball to clear the danger.

Real Madrid, as they have done for the past 13 minutes, squirm away on the counter, this time down the left. Fran García gets all the way to the byline before seeing his cross deflected behind.

Rayo want a penalty for a handball in the box but the referee has instead given a free-kick to the away team for an offside in the buildup. 

Ten minutes gone and the Rayo fans are still giving it their all as they try to push the home team on.

Madrid look quite comfortable as things stand and they know that they possess a huge threat on the counter.

The away side break again and Brahim send Vini Jr racing down the left wing, only to be tackled as he enters the Rayo box.

Real Madrid are controlling the ball as Rayo, who have had the worst possible start against the league leaders, press them all across the pitch.

We're underway again.

A devastating counter from Real Madrid, who took advantage of the high press of Rayo Vallecano.

We've got a VAR check for offside...

Wow, what a moment of football. Real Madrid almost concede after Lunin plays a wayward pass towards Camavinga.

Rayo recover and can't get a shot away as madness ensues in the Real Madrid box. 

The away side get the ball and Valverde goes flying down the right before sending a low cross to Joselu, who taps past the goalkeeper.

OFFSIDE!

Ancelotti has set his side up in something of a 4-2-3-1 with Luka Modric in behind Joselu.

The away side attack first: Valverde opens towards Vinicius who goes up against Isi and drives down the wing.

He sends a low cross in that's deflected behind for a corner, which Rayo defend well.

AND WE'RE OFF!

Real Madrid get the ball rolling from left to right.

HERE COME THE PLAYERS!

The 22 players have made their way from the tunnel to the pitch and now we've got the handshakes in front of the main stand.

The stadium is rocking!

As we wait for the teams to emerge, the fans are making their way to their seats. The buzz from the crowd is electric under the mid-morning sun.

LESS THAN 10 TO GO!

Both teams have finished their pre-game warmups and are in the dressing rooms for the final team talks ahead of kick-off!

LALIGA

Celta Vigo - Barcelona summary: score, goals, highlights, LaLiga EA Sports

Here's how Barcelona got on yesterday in their tough away tie against Celta. Roddy had us covered for that one.

A reminder of the XIs:

RAYO VALLECANO

GK: Dimitrievski

DEF: Balliu - Aridane - Lejeune - Espino

MID: Isi - Unai López - Óscar Valentín - Álvaro - Trejo

ATT: R.D.T.

REAL MADRID

GK: Lunin

DEF: Lucas - Tchouaméni - Nacho - Fran García

MID: Camavinga - Modric - Valverde - Brahim

ATT: Vini Jr - Joselu

Real Madrid looking to put the record straight

Los Blancos have scored in every game this season - except Rayo Vallecano at home.

That game ended 0-0 and was a real showing of defensive solidity from the underdogs, who defended superbly and to this day, remain the only side to keep the Real Madrid side of the scoreboard at nil.

Lunin starts once again

Kepa is on the bench again as nobody at Real Madrid can argue that Lunin deserves to lose his place in Ancelotti's starting XI, especially after such a standout performance against RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League.

Get involved!

Here's our poll on Twitter, which has gone live. Drop us a score prediction and have your say on what you think is going to happen in Vallecas today.

Real Madrid are on the pitch!

But don't worry, it's only for the pre-game warmup. The players will stay out there for around 15 more minutes before the team talks begin.

Who's the ref?

Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz is the man with the whistle today.

The 32-year-old from Galicia is taking charge of his 50th game in LaLiga today. So far, he's given out around 6 yellows per game and 0.4 reds.

He hasn't given many penalties, just 9 in those 49 games. 

Top of the table:

Real Madrid begin the game today at the top of the LaLiga table, and they have a small cushion on second placed Girona, who are 5 points behind.

A win today would see Los Blancos move well ahead of their Catalan rivals, who play tomorrow against Athletic Club at San Mamés.

Iñigo Pérez pre-game:

It's a good feeling to make my debut, I'm very happy. It's tough but it's a good thing.

Against these teams, you have to be very solid in both attack and defence. It's easy to say but difficult to do.

Real Madrid's defensive absentees are huge, but they have such a strong squad.

How things looks for Rayo:

The home side sit in mid-table ahead of kick-off, and a win would see them creep away from the relegation zone in the standings; at the moment they're 7 points off the drop zone.

Joselu into Carlo's XI

Joselu starts today for Real Madrid in place of Rodrygo, who is getting a well-deserved rest on the bench.

The forward has become a fan-favourite at the club since his return, and has managed to get 7 goals so far this season. 

While he may not possess the outright talent of his teammates, Joselu certainly offers something different for Los Blancos and gives them more options in terms of constructing and finishing attacks.

RAYO XI REVEALED

Iñigo Pérez has named his first starting XI as Rayo Vallecano manager.

Former Real Madrid striker, Raúl de Tomás, makes the XI as the front man.

Rayo Vallecano have a new manager

Iñigo Pérez is the new Rayo Vallecano manager after the club sacked Francisco earlier in the week. 

He is a highly rated prospect within coaching circles, and was Andoni Iraola's number 2 when the now-Bournemouth manager was in charge of the Madrid side. 

Pérez was a stalwart under Marcelo Bielsa at Athletic Club during the 11/12 season and reportedly decided to turn to management as a result of his time with the former Leeds boss. 

His first test today is quite a tough one, against league leaders Real Madrid. And he's not going to have much time to relax, as Rayo's next game after today's tie is an away trip to Girona. Quite the welcome.

Modric is back in the starting XI

The Croatian midfielder is back into Carlo Ancelotti's starting XI for the game today.

Poor Modric hasn't seen the same amount of minutes as he has become used to at Real Madrid, with players such as Camavinga and Tchouaméni getting in ahead of him.

His lack of playing time has seen rumours float around of a potential exit, with Saudi Arabia reportedly keen.

Real Madrid in their second strip

Real Madrid are set to play in their navy second kit during today's game, as their all-white home kit would indeed clash with Rayo Vallecano's lovely white and red home colours.

REAL MADRID

Mbappé to Real Madrid? Ancelotti “isn’t worried”

Manager of Los Blancos, Carlo Ancelotti, accepted that the topic of the day for journalists was going to be Kylian Mbappé, but also had a game to consider.

There were four questions about Kylian Mbappé at the Real Madrid press conference ahead of the league game against Rayo Vallecano.

But with veteran finesse, Carlo Ancelotti skillfully sidestepped them, and in the final one, he brought that line to a close.

REAL MADRID XI ANNOUNCED

Ancelotti doesn't fail with his early team news, and the shock is that both Brahim and Modric have made the cut. Fran García also starts against his former team.

Team news: Rayo Vallecano

The home side have, quite spectacularly, a near-clean bill of health at the club, with Chavarría the only doubt for Pérez, the new manager. More on him later. 

Team news: Real Madrid

Los Blancos are without the usual suspects for the game, with Courtois, Alaba, Militão and now Rüdiger all out of action.

Bellingham is also unavailable for the next couple of weeks.

Brahim Díaz, who suffered an injury in the last game against RB Leipzig, has made the squad.

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to the AS USA live text coverage of Rayo Vallecano against Real Madrid in LaLiga EA Sports.

It's Joe here today to guide you through the action, which should start in around an hour.