In a thrilling La Liga encounter at the Santiago Bernabéu on February 1, 2026, Real Madrid secured a vital 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano thanks to a stoppage-time penalty converted by Kylian Mbappé. The match was filled with late drama, as Los Blancos snatched all three points in the dying moments after Rayo fought back to equalize.
Match Overview and Key Moments
- First Half: Real Madrid took the lead in the 15th minute through Vinícius Júnior, who scored with a clinical finish.
- Second Half: Rayo Vallecano leveled the score in the 49th minute via Jorge de Frutos.
- The game turned chaotic in added time. Rayo ended with nine players after red cards, including one to Pep Chavarria (around 90+12′) and another related incident.
- The decisive moment came in the 90+10′ (or around the 9th-10th minute of stoppage time) when Real Madrid was awarded a penalty.
Real Madrid 2-1 Rayo Vallecano Goals: Vinícius Júnior (15′), Mbappé (90’+10′ pen) | Jorge de Frutos (49′)
Why Did Real Madrid Get the Penalty in the Last Minutes?
Deep into stoppage time, between the 97th and 99th minute, the decisive moment arrived inside Rayo’s penalty area. Brahim Díaz, who had come on as a substitute after Jude Bellingham was forced off injured, was attempting to control the ball and shield it from pressure inside the box. Rayo defender Nobel Mendy, the young left-back, stepped in to challenge but badly mistimed his attempt.
Instead of making contact with the ball, Mendy caught Díaz with a clear kick, sending him to the ground. The referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot without any hesitation, even as Rayo players surrounded him in protest.
Mbappé stepped up to take the penalty. He opted for the left side, sending goalkeeper Augusto Batalla the wrong way and slotting it into the bottom left corner for the 2-1 winner at around 90+10. This proved decisive, securing the three points for Real Madrid in a tense, stoppage-time thriller.