Rayo Vallecano got here from behind to beat Actual Madrid 3-2 on Monday with the champions failing to reclaim prime spot within the standings after two consecutive video games with no win and struggling their first loss in LaLiga this season.
Barcelona are prime on 34 factors, two forward of Actual Madrid and ten forward of third-placed Atletico Madrid. Following their third consecutive win, Rayo climbed to eighth place, two factors off the European qualification spots.
Since dropping Ballon d’Or profitable striker Karim Benzema to a thigh harm final month, Actual have gained solely one among their final three video games in all competitions.
On Monday night, Actual missed a number of possibilities in a end-to-end affair towards Rayo who’re one of the vital prolific goalscoring groups in LaLiga this season.
“I wasn’t stunned as a result of everyone knows how they play, they had been higher and extra exact than us at the moment and it is a properly deserved win for them,” Actual supervisor Carlo Ancelotti informed Movistar Plus.
“We misplaced too many challenges. They had been overwhelming. It does not matter you probably have extra high quality in case your rivals have extra depth than you.
“I feel we began the season properly however the workforce has felt the exhausting schedule forward of the World Cup.”
Roared on by their passionate followers on the claustrophobic Estadio de Vallecas, the hosts opened the scoring 5 minutes into the sport when midfielder Santi Comesana completed from contained in the field a fast counter-attack, however Actual went forward with two targets in 4 minutes.
The primary got here within the thirty seventh minute when Croatian playmaker Luka Modric transformed a penalty after Marco Asensio was fouled contained in the field and the second got here virtually 4 minutes later with a towering header by Eder Militao.
Nonetheless, Rayo ahead Alvaro Garcia scored the equaliser simply earlier than halftime, scrambling dwelling a free ball.
Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo then wasted a number of possibilities earlier than and after the break that would have put Actual again in entrance.
The second half was a feisty and ill-tempered affair, with each groups given three bookings every and Rayo supervisor Andoni Iraola proven a crimson card on account of improper conduct following a number of outbursts on the referee.
However Rayo’s resilience was rewarded as they had been then given a penalty of their very own within the 67th minute after VAR noticed a handball by defender Dani Carvajal inside the world. Actual’s Thibaut Courtois stopped Oscar Trejo’s effort however the kick needed to be retaken as a result of the goalkeeper left his line too early.
Trejo did not waste his second probability, scoring what proved to be the winner with a tidy end to the goalkeeper’s left.