Real Madrid Held by Rayo Vallecano as La Liga Title Race Tightens
Madrid drop crucial points in goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano as Barcelona eye chance to close the gap.
- Real Madrid held 0–0 by Rayo Vallecano in a tense Madrid derby.
- Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham miss key chances to secure victory.
- Barcelona can move within three points of the league leaders with a win at Celta Vigo.
Real Madrid’s advantage at the top of La Liga has been reduced to five points after they were held to a frustrating draw by city rivals Rayo Vallecano.
Xabi Alonso’s side entered the match hoping to restore their seven-point cushion following Villarreal’s 2–0 win over Espanyol on Saturday, which had briefly moved the Yellow Submarine into second place.
However, Rayo — buoyed by three wins in their previous five games — proved a resilient opponent, limiting Madrid’s attacking rhythm and defending resolutely throughout.
Defender Raúl Asencio came closest to scoring in the first half, but his free header flew just wide after he was left unmarked inside the penalty area.
Xabi Alonso introduced former Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold late in the second half in search of a breakthrough, yet Madrid struggled to carve out clear chances. Both Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham missed opportunities to break the deadlock, leaving the champions frustrated at full-time.
The result opens the door for Barcelona to narrow the gap at the top to just three points when they face Celta Vigo later on Sunday evening (20:00 GMT).
