Sunday February 26, 2012 Day 25 Finished Vallecas

Rayo Vallecano 0 - 1 Real Madrid

  • Cristiano Ronaldo 54’

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  1. Ronaldo scores stunner as Real edge Rayo

    Ronaldo scores stunner as Real edge Rayo

    Cristiano Ronaldo’s 29th La Liga goal of the season was enough for Real Madrid to see off resilient ten-man Rayo Vallecano 1-0. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Rayo Vallecano
    • Real Madrid
    • 90' Full-time: Rayo Vallecano 0-1 Real Madrid. Real Madrid hold on to secure a narrow 1-0 victory over ten-man Rayo Vallecano, along with three points that sees the champions-elect open up a 13-point lead over arch-rivals Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
    • 90+3' The set-piece delivery is deflected out for a Rayo corner, but that's full-time!
    • 90+2' Pepe is carded for a clumsy challenge - free-kick opportunity for Rayo in the dying seconds.
    • 90' Three minutes of stoppage time to be added.
    • 90' Real end-to-end stuff now, as Armenters swipes at clean air from Trashorras' corner with the goal wide open and then Cristiano Ronaldo smashes over after Real had broke quickly from the back.
    • 90' Fabio Coentrao is the sixth Real player to be carded.
    • 90' Michu gets a straight red card for a lunge on Sami Khedira. Seems very harsh as the Rayo player clearly won the ball, even if it was from behind.
    • 88' Ronaldo cannot pick out a teammate in the Rayo box as his square pass is cleared. Up the other end, and Pepe scrambles the ball away as the game becomes increasingly stretched in these closing minutes.
    • 87' Raul Tamudo's strike from the left is deflected behind for a Rayo corner to the relief of the Real faithful as that deflection could easily have crept beyond Casillas.
    • 86' Ronaldo's strike from just off-centre to the left swings one way and then the other in the air and forces Joel Robles into a scrambling recovery save to keep the score at 1-0.
    • 85' Javi Fuego is booked for refusing to retreat as Cristiano Ronaldo lies up a free-kick.
    • 84' Rayo Vallecano sub: Casedo comes off for Raul Tamudo.
    • 83' The ball is fed by Ronaldo from the right into the path of Callejon who takes a touch past Joel Robles in the Rayo goal, but it is a heavy touch and the ball travels out for a goal-kick.
    • 81' Real Madrid sub: Esteban Granero comes on for Marcelo
    • 79' Real have regained their composure somewhat after Rayo's brief attacking flurry as we approach the final ten minutes.
    • 76' Real Madrid sub: Jose Callejon comes on for Gonzalo Higuain.
    • 74' Rayo definitely on top now as Jose Casado lets fly with a 40-yard piledriver that Iker Casillas manages to push over his goal, with the ball thundering towards the top corner of the Real goal.
    • 72' Rayo might not get a better chance to secure the equaliser, as Armenteros robs the ball deep in Real territory following a Sergio Ramos slip before teeing up Michu who blazes over with the goal at his mercy.
    • 70' Real Vallecano sub: Roberto Trashorras comes on for Jose Movilla
    • 68' Rayo have gone into their shell a bit since fallling behind and Jorge Pulido clears Marcelo's inswinging cross from the left at the second attempt to ease the pressure on the home side.
    • 66' Xabi Alonso is the latest Real player to be booked for a late challenge.
    • 64' Sergio Ramos drives a rasping free-kick just off-centre to the right at Rayo's goal from 25 yards out, and Joel Robles manages to punch the ball up in the air before gathering it cleanly at the second attempt.
    • 61' Real Madrid sub: Fabio Coentrao comes on for Kaka
    • 60' Rayo Vallecano sub: Lass is coming on for Piti
    • 58' Free-kick for Real deep in Rayo's defending third on the left flank, and Xabi Alonso's delivery towards the back post is palmed away one-handed by Joel Robles as the visitors press for that second goal.
    • 55' GOAL FOR REAL MADRID! RAYO VALLECANO 0-1 REAL MADRID (Cristiano Ronaldo). Out of nothing, Real lead and its come through Cristiano Ronaldo, who cheekily backheels the ball into the net from eight yards out after Rayo fail to adequately clear Mesut Ozil's outswinging corner.
    • 53' Joel Robles is out quick to pounce on the ball after a Real cross from the left is overhit towards the edge of the penalty area.
    • 51' The second-half appears to have picked up where the first left off, with Real becoming increasingly frustrated by Rayo's dogged display.
    • 48' Xabi Alonso whips in a free-kick off the left flank, but Joel Robles is under little pressure in coming to collect the ball.
    • 46' Real Madrid get us underway for this second-half.
    • 45' Half-time: Rayo Vallecano 0-0 Real Madrid
    • 45+1' One minute of stoppage time to be played at the end of this first-half, as Arbeloa wins a throw-in deep in Rayo territory but Real cannot capitalise on it.
    • 45' And Marcelo is booked for similar protestations at the decision of the linesman to award a Rayo free-kick.
    • 44' Iker Casillas was booked for earlier protesting about the decision to award the corner for Rayo after Michu came close to fashioning a shooting opportunity.
    • 43' Real break forward quickly again, but Cristiano Ronaldo is flagged offside after attempting to work the ball along the left flank.
    • 42' Rayo comes close again as Michu receives the ball deep in the Real box, but Sergio Ramos is able to knick it off of him, but only into the path of Javi Fuego as the ball pinballs out for a corner to the obvious relief of the visitors.
    • 40' Unbelievable scenes. Piti receives the ball in acres of space out on the left flank and proceeds to jink inside, before unleashing a savage right-footed shot that comes back off the inside of the far post and straight out for a Real throw. So unlucky for Rayo.
    • 38' Diego Costa is barged off the ball, and this time its a Rayo free-kick from the left channel. Sergio Ramos is able to get something on Piti's delivery in heading the ball up in the air, and then Marcelo follows up with a hooked clearance out of harm's way.
    • 36' Now its Real's turn to test Rayo with a corner of their own, but Ozil's ball into the box is decisively knocked clear.
    • 35' Arbeloa looks a little less than certain in knocking the ball behind for a Rayo corner. But Piti's delivery is headed clear by Sami Khedira under little pressure.
    • 34' Higuain cannot quite find Cristiano Ronaldo through the centre of the park, as Real attempt to hit Rayo on the break after winning possession and the chance goes begging.
    • 32' ... however Kaka is selfish when running into trouble. But the ball does find its way back to Sergio Ramos who proceeds to deliver a deep cross from the right into the path of Higuain, who evades Arribas and stabs the ball just wide of Joel Robles' goal. However, Higuain was adjudged to have received the ball in an offside position anyway.
    • 30' Sergio Ramos can only clear the ball behind for a corner from a Rayo cross off the right flank and, following the ball being pumped back into play, Kaka gives away a cheap free-kick close to the Real byline. But Piti's delivery is poor and Real can counter...
    • 27' Piti attempts to latch onto a pass splitting the Real defence, but the attacking midfielder mistimes his run and is flagged offside.
    • 26' Cristiano Ronaldo looks to inject some spark into Real's play - collecting the ball on the left and sending a crashing drive just wide of Joel Robles' far post. Moments later, the Portuguese winger attempts a similar snap-shot, this time from a more central position, with the same result of the ball flying narrowly wide.
    • 24' Cristiano Ronaldo attempts a 25-yard drive but his effort is quickly charged down by the on-rushing Rayo midfield anchors.
    • 23' Diego Costa attempts to run onto a through-ball but the delivery is overhit and the ball goes out for a Real goal-kick.
    • 21' Diego Costa becomes the first Rayo player to be booked, apparently for diving, yet on replays it shows that Sergio Ramos barged him in the chest before the striker hit the ground. The real full-back is lucky not to have earned his second yellow himself in that clash.
    • 20' Gonzalo Higuain, who gets the benefit of the doubt with the offside decision, runs clean through on the Rayo goal but Arribas does well in recovering to impede the striker's progress as the Argentinean gets his foot stuck under the ball, and it travels out for a Real corner.
    • 18' Cristiano Ronaldo works his tricks to find space along the Real left channel but the Portuguese winger's cutback is mis-guided. Moments later, Marcelo runs into Javi Fuego when attempting a delivery of his own from the left.
    • 16' Diego Costa shrugs off Arbeloa down the Rayo left and his cross has to be turned behind by Marcelo at the expense of a corner for the home side. Rayo beginning to crank up the pressure, but they fail to punish Real from that particular set-piece opportunity.
    • 14' Another free-kick in a promising position for Rayo out on the right sideline, as Pepe had stood on a Rayo foot. The inswinging delivery is met by the head of Jorge Pulido but he cannot direct it on goal as the ball flies over Casillas' bar.
    • 12' Sami Khedira cuts in off the right and finds Kaka, whose first touch lets him down and so the ball proceeds to trickle harmlessly through to Rayo's 'keeper Joel Robles.
    • 9' Marcelo clips a delightful ball off the left flank into the path of the on-rushing Mesut Ozil, and Arribas is called on to intercept before Real's German playmaker could pull the trigger just a few yards out from the Rayo goal.
    • 7' Sami Khedira attempts to run onto a through-ball played along the right flank, but Rayo get across quickly to clear the danger.
    • 5' From that infringement, the free-kick out on the right is hit hard by Rayo's Armenteros but it strikes against the Real wall.
    • 4' Since that early Rayo chance, Real have begun to find their rhythm and stake their claim with possession, but they sloppily give it away and Sergio Ramos is booked for hauling down Diego Costa.
    • 2' Diego Costa wins a corner for Rayo within the first minute, as the home crowd chant in boisterous mood. But Piti's delivery is headed clear from inside the six-yard box.
    • 1' And Rayo Vallecano get us underway kicking from right to left.
    • 14:58 And the players come out to sunny skies as we steadily approach kick-off.
    • 14:55 Real Madrid are the top-scoring away side in the ligaBBVA (30) and has picked up more points (28) than any other side on the road, according to OptaJose
    • 14:50 Real Madrid, who will be hoping to shake off any tiredness from their midweek Champions League exertions in Moscow, replace Karim Benzema with Gonzalo Higuain as their attacking spearhead. Angel Di Maria, who did not travel to Russia, is not included in today's squad either.
    • 14:47 If only home games counted in the league this season, Rayo would be in the relegation zone (W4 D1 L6; 13 points), according to OptaJose
    • 14:45 Team News for Rayo Vallecano (4-2-3-1): Joel Robles; Tito, Arribas, Pulido, Casado; Movilla, Javi Fuego; Piti, Armenteros, Michu; Diego Costa.
    • 14:42 Real Madrid are on a run of eight straight league wins on the road; keeping five clean sheets, according to OptaJose
    • 14:40 Team News for Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Casillas; Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Xabi Alonso, Khedira; Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Ozil; Higuain.
    • 14:35 Rayo Vallecano, meanwhile, who were tipped by many to be involved in a relegation battle this season, have confounded critics so far by cementing their place in the top half of the table and even going on to compete for those coveted European places. They recorded an impressive 5-3 victory over high-flying Levante last week and will be hoping to show Real Madrid that they are similarly no pushovers here.
    • 14:30 Victory for Real Madrid against Rayo Vallecano this afternoon will see Jose Mourinho's men open up a 13-point gap over arch rivals Barcelona at the summit of La Liga, with the Catalan club due to play away to Atletico Madrid later tonight.
    • 14:25 Real Madrid have scored as many goals across the first-halves of their league matches as Rayo have in their entire La Liga campaign thus far (32 goals), according to OptaJose
    • 14:20 Hello and welcome to live text coverage of this afternoon's La Liga derby clash between Rayo Vallecano and table-toppers Real Madrid.

  • Summary

    • 90' Michu gets a straight red card for a lunge on Sami Khedira. Seems very harsh as the Rayo player clearly won the ball, even if it was from behind.
    • 86' Ronaldo's strike from just off-centre to the left swings one way and then the other in the air and forces Joel Robles into a scrambling recovery save to keep the score at 1-0.
    • 74' Rayo definitely on top now as Jose Casado lets fly with a 40-yard piledriver that Iker Casillas manages to push over his goal, with the ball thundering towards the top corner of the Real goal.
    • 72' Rayo might not get a better chance to secure the equaliser, as Armenteros robs the ball deep in Real territory following a Sergio Ramos slip before teeing up Michu who blazes over with the goal at his mercy.
    • 64' Sergio Ramos drives a rasping free-kick just off-centre to the right at Rayo's goal from 25 yards out, and Joel Robles manages to punch the ball up in the air before gathering it cleanly at the second attempt.
    • 55' GOAL FOR REAL MADRID! RAYO VALLECANO 0-1 REAL MADRID (Cristiano Ronaldo). Out of nothing, Real lead and its come through Cristiano Ronaldo, who cheekily backheels the ball into the net from eight yards out after Rayo fail to adequately clear Mesut Ozil's outswinging corner.
    • 42' Rayo comes close again as Michu receives the ball deep in the Real box, but Sergio Ramos is able to knick it off of him, but only into the path of Javi Fuego as the ball pinballs out for a corner to the obvious relief of the visitors.
    • 40' Unbelievable scenes. Piti receives the ball in acres of space out on the left flank and proceeds to jink inside, before unleashing a savage right-footed shot that comes back off the inside of the far post and straight out for a Real throw. So unlucky for Rayo.
    • 26' Cristiano Ronaldo looks to inject some spark into Real's play - collecting the ball on the left and sending a crashing drive just wide of Joel Robles' far post. Moments later, the Portuguese winger attempts a similar snap-shot, this time from a more central position, with the same result of the ball flying narrowly wide.
    • 20' Gonzalo Higuain, who gets the benefit of the doubt with the offside decision, runs clean through on the Rayo goal but Arribas does well in recovering to impede the striker's progress as the Argentinean gets his foot stuck under the ball, and it travels out for a Real corner.
    • 9' Marcelo clips a delightful ball off the left flank into the path of the on-rushing Mesut Ozil, and Arribas is called on to intercept before Real's German playmaker could pull the trigger just a few yards out from the Rayo goal.
    • 14:45 Team News for Rayo Vallecano (4-2-3-1): Joel Robles; Tito, Arribas, Pulido, Casado; Movilla, Javi Fuego; Piti, Armenteros, Michu; Diego Costa.
    • 14:40 Team News for Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Casillas; Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Xabi Alonso, Khedira; Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Ozil; Higuain.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Rayo Vallecano

    Manager: José Ramón Sandoval

  • Real Madrid

    Manager: José Mourinho

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.6 -
      Defenders
      5.9 -
      Yellow Card 5.8 -
      5.6 -
      Substitution Out82′ 5.5 -
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card 5.8 -
      Substitution Out70′ 5.7 -
      Substitution Out60′ 6.4 -
      Red Card 6 -
      5.7 -
      Strikers
      Yellow Card 6.2 -
      Subs
      Substitution In82′ 5.5 -
      Substitution In70′ 5 -
      Substitution In60′ 5.3 -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      Yellow Card 7.4 -
      Defenders
      6 -
      Yellow Card 5.8 -
      Yellow Card 6.4 -
      Yellow Card Substitution Out81′ 6.2 -
      Midfielders
      6.2 -
      Yellow Card 6.3 -
      7.4 -
      Substitution Out61′ 6.8 -
      Goal 7.5 -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out76′ 6.7 -
      Subs
      Substitution In61′ Yellow Card 6.7 -
      Substitution In76′ 6.2 -
      Substitution In81′ 6.1 -

Comment 40 - 59 of 59

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  1. Don't try and pretend that christiano rubbish­ ronaldo can play football. Look at messi if there was­ an one on one between the 2 messi would show u madrid­ supporting idiots how football should be played.­ Penalty should not have been given just another example­ of stupid idiots diving and cheating and messing up­ proper spanish football. Real Madrid and Ronaldo, shove­ it.

    From davidwheeler42, on Sat 24 Mar 3:43

  2. real is always beter than another teams and it will­ show its strong torget in futuere

    From Hassibullah, on Tue 28 Feb 17:12
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Ozil is best

    From Saeedeh, on Mon 27 Feb 23:03

  4. Ozil & Khedira Are Kings of Real Madrid

    From Sanaz, on Mon 27 Feb 20:53

  5. HALA MADRID!!!!!!

    From yurgen_spain, on Mon 27 Feb 19:46

  6. Ronaldo + Real Madrid can now beat any team in the­ world. Even they will have a better El-Clasico later­ season. Good luck RM

    From Nomyalai A, on Mon 27 Feb 13:12

  7. Real Madrid is the best always.from D

    From Ore Akin-odidi, on Mon 27 Feb 5:17
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Ref left ramos on the pitch, tried to save face by­ sending off a boot polisher from the madrid bench, how­ pathetic. And to those calling barca losers, i have one­ question for you: if a team that has won 13 out of 16­ trophies are losers, what do you call a team like­ madrid with 1 out of 16??? Even if the refs push you­ all the way to laliga glory, it will be 1 out of 6 this­ season, barca already has 3 this year and you have the­ nerve to call them losers? Whats worse, barca has­ turned the bernabeu into a picnic arena! Put a little­ thought before opening your stinky beaks.

    From , on Mon 27 Feb 3:51

  9. the win is the only thing that matters! :)

    From mrcrocodilemr01, on Mon 27 Feb 3:08

  10. Kudos. Pathetic performance, though.

    From Misi, on Mon 27 Feb 2:25

  11. Haters Always Gonna Hate Madrid!! Their Hate Make Us­ Stronger!
    We're Leaders Whether They Like It Or­ Not!

    From KhabraL, on Mon 27 Feb 1:59
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Real Madrid's performance today was unexpectedly­ poor. Nevertheless, they secured the important result -­ a win. Barca may roast in the fire today trying to­ catch up unfortunately!

    From Adam, on Mon 27 Feb 1:48

  13. i also agree that that red card was harsh and non­ existent. rayo had good chances to score right after­ that unfortune! just because they didn't score,­ they lost, not because they had a man harshly sent­ off!!

    From KhabraL, on Mon 27 Feb 1:46

  14. eheheh, what does it matter if we play superb,­ horrible?! haters always gonna come up with something!­ of course, i don't like cheats, but it happens­ sometime, what can i do about it?!? nothing!!

    so if­ there are people saying that refs are always helping­ us, fine, then that only means we play with 14 refs.­
    just because refs made a mistake here or there,­ it's no reason for me not to be happy with victory­ in the end!!

    From KhabraL, on Mon 27 Feb 1:41

  15. why is it some stupid children always come on here and­ accuse teams of paying refs and all dat bull! Grow up­ babies, stop crying and enjoy football! dats wat it is!

    From J.S., on Mon 27 Feb 1:41

  16. @khabraL just ignore these barcelosers idiots,­ haha
    they are in shock, they know that they won`t be­ able to beat atletico madrid, thats why they are­ complaining about refs,lol

    and to @Barcelona Dream­ Team Nr 2, you are the biggest mother fu.cker in the­ world, you loser, you are frustated, and you know­ madrid is la liga champs, barcelosers fans talking­ about the cheats, you want to see how you can cheat,­ how the refs is helping you guys out, let them score­ off side goals, let sergio busquets, messi, sanchez,­ iniesta, alves dive, then watch tonights match­ against atl. madrid, bloody losers!!!!!!!!!!!

    From vis591989, on Mon 27 Feb 1:36

  17. Am a Madrid fan. That Vallecano red card needs to be­ rescinded. Very fortunate to win today, but another 3­ points RESULT!

    From Steve, on Mon 27 Feb 1:33

  18. Catch me if you can...Up Madrid!!!

    From AMA, on Mon 27 Feb 1:27
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Khabral r u idiot? I am also a madrid fan. But­ don't like to cheat small teams and win. Actualy­ ref demoralised and despirited disencouraged­ rayovlcano. And he destroyd their hop n spirit. And in­ league1 this cheatings r not ther. Its realy­ disappointing

    From MujeebR, on Mon 27 Feb 1:22

  20. Madrid is happy to play with 14 ref's on the­ pitch... against 10...11...and even 9! we don't­ care, as long as we keep beating all of them! Playing­ with 14 ref's is not that bad!!! Even better­ against 10! We're there to win, nothing more!!

    From KhabraL, on Mon 27 Feb 1:11
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