Mbappe Hits Double as Real Madrid Beat Rayo Vallecano 4-1
Real Madrid restored momentum in La Liga with a 4-1 home win over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, responding emphatically to the defeat at Real Betis and recording a fourth victory from five league matches. Kylian Mbappe scored twice, supplied an assist and matched Karim Benzema’s club mark of six goals across the opening five games of a league campaign, set in 2021-22.
Match facts
| Item | Figure or date | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 4-1 | La Liga victory over Rayo Vallecano |
| Mbappe | 2 goals, 1 assist | Reached six goals in five league fixtures |
| Home record against Rayo | 17 matches unbeaten | Run stretches back to 1996 |
| Next fixture | Tuesday night | Real Madrid travel to Elche |
Mbappe put Madrid ahead from the penalty spot before creating the second goal for Alvaro Carreras only minutes later. Jude Bellingham then converted Vinicius Junior’s low pull-back to give the home side a commanding advantage before half-time.
Rayo found a route back through Sergio Camello after the interval, briefly reducing the margin, but Madrid retained control of the result. Mbappe added the fourth in stoppage time to complete a convincing scoreline and extend Madrid’s long unbeaten home sequence against their city rivals.
Jose Mourinho praised the attacking threat within his squad but acknowledged that the team’s output dropped sharply after the break following a demanding run of fixtures, including Champions League action in midweek.
The Madrid coach said his side create and convert plenty of opportunities, while also wasting enough chances to leave an opponent vulnerable to a heavy defeat on another night. Mourinho suggested there will be a game in which Madrid score seven, but felt this contest was effectively decided by the interval because his players did not have the energy to reproduce their first-half level.
He pointed to Bellingham’s condition late in the match as evidence of the physical strain, saying the midfielder had little left during the final 10 minutes.
Bernardo Silva, one of Madrid’s major summer arrivals, continued his adaptation to Mourinho’s side. The Portuguese midfielder has increasingly been used to set the rhythm in possession and provide cleaner progression through the middle of the pitch.
Silva said the squad were pleased with the points but must quickly prepare for the next match. He explained that Mourinho wants him involved in the build-up, adding fluency to Madrid’s possession and helping the team move the ball forward. The midfielder said he is still adjusting to those demands and working towards his best level.
Madrid now head to Elche for Tuesday’s domestic fixture as Mourinho considers how to manage Bellingham and the rest of his squad through an increasingly congested calendar. Barcelona can restore a three-point lead at the top of La Liga if they beat Levante in their next league match.
