Mbappé's Stoppage-Time Penalty Secures Dramatic 2-1 Victory for Real Madrid Over Rayo Vallecano

Real Madrid claimed a hard-fought and highly controversial 2-1 win against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on February 1, 2026, at the Santiago Bernabéu. The match, which saw Rayo reduced to nine men, kept Los Blancos firmly in the title race by cutting Barcelona's lead to just one point.

Vinícius Júnior opened the scoring early for Real Madrid in the 15th minute with a clinical finish. However, Rayo Vallecano fought back strongly after halftime, equalizing through Jorge de Frutos in the 49th minute. The visitors' resilience was tested as they suffered two red cards—Pathé Ciss was dismissed in the 80th minute, followed by Pep Chavarría late in stoppage time.

With the game seemingly heading for a draw, referee decisions sparked intense debate. Deep into added time (around the 98th-100th minute), a penalty was awarded to Real Madrid after Nobel Mendy fouled Brahim Díaz in the box. Kylian Mbappé stepped up and calmly converted his 22nd league goal of the season, sending the ball past goalkeeper Augusto Batalla to snatch all three points.

The victory extended Real Madrid's winning streak in La Liga to six matches but drew criticism from rival fans over the timing of added time and the penalty call. Mbappé's composure under pressure once again proved decisive, highlighting his growing influence since joining the club. Despite an underwhelming overall performance and an injury to Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid remain hot on Barcelona's heels in a tightly contested title battle.