Real Madrid did not have Argentine Franco Mastantuno, but they struggled for another Argentine. Battle of August It was a Unbreakable wall For the team Xabi Alonsowhich He stopped his winning streak In La Liga – they only lost to Atlético Madrid and won the rest – and got their first draw of the season in Vallecas against Atlético Madrid. Rayo VallecanoWhose audacity sometimes put the Merengues in trouble, and who tried in every possible way to overcome the Albiceleste goalkeeper, who was their savior with his interventions.
Xabi Alonso has emerged for Vallecas with a striking new look in his eleven matches since Ibrahim Diaz He started almost two months after doing so for the last time in the league, since September 13 against Real Sociedad. The Moroccan winger, ahead of Rodrygo, had the chance to prove himself in the derby, and although he did not score, he showed great enthusiasm, provided mobility to his team’s attack and was seen as very involved, especially in the first half, as he ended up being a player in the second half.
Rayo, with Sergio Camilo and Brazilian Alemao on the bench, played with Jorge de Frutos as a false nine leading the attack with Issy Palazon and Alvaro Garcia from the wings. The speed of the two, and the playmaker’s self-confidence, created a lot of anxiety for Real Madrid’s defense, even though it was Romanian right-back Andre Ratio who was able to score in the first half with a shot that Courtois blocked well.
Before, Real Madrid was the first to warn with a left-foot shot fired by Turkish Arda Guler from the edge of the penalty area. It was blocked by Argentine Batala, who later had a noteworthy intervention and saved his team with a shot after half an hour from Vinicius.
Raul Asensio also tried to do this with a header with a precise shot from the middle of the Alvaro Carreras area that hit the post while Batala was looking at it, but he could not do anything.
In the second half, Rayo took to the field with a clear slogan: wanting to have the ball, not speculating and taking advantage of Real Madrid’s pressing demands.
The merengue tried, without risking it, to bet on individualism to resolve the match, and this happened, at first, through two operations. Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe Which brought tension in Vallekas. The first was due to a left-foot shot that was blocked by Batala, and the second was due to a shot at the far post that missed the post.
The South American duel was for the sake of battle!
Valverde’s good shot was blocked by the goalkeeper, the Uruguayan’s first clear chance in Vallecas. #LaLigaEndSPORTS#Rayo_Real_Madrid pic.twitter.com/jYndhxm5t8
– DSports (@DSports) November 9, 2025
Rayo was not far behind and also had chances, such as one from Alvaro Garcia with a shot almost inside the small area that went over the top and was countered with a whip by the Uruguayan. Fede Valverde That cleared the battle.
The final minutes of the match, with a series of substitutions, slowed the pace of play for both teams and Real Madrid, although all of their artillery – Guler, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius and Mbappe – failed to do any damage.
With this result, Real Madrid remains at the top of the standings with 31 points, while Rayo, with 15 points, remains in the comfortable mid-table area.
About The Author
