Real Madrid Suffer Loss To Basement Club Rayo Vallecano
Lowly Rayo Vallecano have defeated a disappointing Real Madrid to boost their hopes of remaining in Spain’s top flight come next season.
A first half penalty confidently converted by Ari Embarba proved decisive as the club moved away from the bottom of the standings though they remain six points away from safety with three games still left to play.
Zinedine Zidane tweaked his line-up a bit making eight changes and this was particularly evident in the side’s lackluster performance on Sunday evening.
That said, it was Real who created the first shooting chance with Marcelo trying out a shot from 25 yards but it was parried away by Alberto Garcia.
Moreover, after that chance by the Los Blancos it was Vallecano who had the better of the spoils and chances alike with Thibaut Courtois keeping out a Jose Pozo low effort at the near post.
The Belgian goalie was called into action once more as he kept Pozo out once again at the opposite side of the penalty area.
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Moments later, Vallecano were rewarded for their play with a goal from the penalty spot after a VAR decision had ruled that Javi Guerra had hauled Jesus Vallejo down.
Real’s best chance of the half fell to Dani Ceballos but the midfielder squandered the chance as he directed the header just wide off the post after connecting with a Carvajal inswinging cross.
Real Madrid looked promising minutes into the second half with Gareth Bale forcing a smart save from Alberto Garcia after which Rayo Vallecano began to dictate the pace of the game once more.
Indeed, Thibaut Courtois had to put on some magic to save a swerving strike from Bebe, a former Manchester United forward.
Zidane looked to change things with the introduction of January signing, Brahim Diaz but Vallecano were in no mood to let this win slip away from their hands.
Rayo Vallecano 1-0 Real Madrid it ended.
