Real Madrid still can’t find the consistency needed to rule La Liga. Facing a daring Rayo Vallecano, Carlo Ancelotti’s men conceded a frustrating draw (3-3), giving up a precious opportunity to overtake Barça. Despite three goals scored, the absence of Kylian Mbappé seemed to weigh on a Madrid team that sometimes faltered in decisive moments.
A catastrophic start for Real
The match started with chaos for the Merengue. Without complexes, Rayo Vallecano surprised its prestigious neighbor in the 4th minute thanks to an unstoppable header from Lopez, before Mumin doubled the lead in the 36th, also on a whim.
Far from being defeated, Real showed character. A sublime strike from Valverde in the 39th minute put the visitors back on track, followed by Jude Bellingham’s equalizer just before the break. Taking a perfect cross from Rodrygo with an uncrossed header, the Englishman proved that he is gradually regaining his best form.
At 2-2 at halftime, Real seemed to gain the upper hand in the second half. The Brazilian Rodrygo, silent for three months, broke his drought in the 56th minute with a deflected shot, perfectly served by Arda Güler. But this glimmer of hope was not enough.
A defense still too crumbly
True to its reputation as a scratch, Rayo Vallecano snatched the equalizer in the 64th minute thanks to Palladzon, served by an inspired Florian Lejeune. The final minutes saw Real push relentlessly, to no avail. This result reflects the current limitations of the Madrilenians: a defense that is too crumbly and a glaring dependence on individualities. With four draws and two defeats in 17 days, the Madrid club is now suffering and could be relegated to four points behind Barça in the event of a victory for the Catalans this Sunday.
Rebound objective in the Intercontinental Cup
For Real, it is already time for a rebound. Next Wednesday, the Intercontinental Cup could offer a breath of fresh air to a collective in search of balance. But to aim higher, we will have to resolve this enigma: how to find a consistency worthy of a title contender?
