Real Madrid travelled to in-form Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday evening looking to cut the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to four points.
The home side dominated proceedings in the first period, but could not make the breakthrough.
Real Madrid improved after the break, however, and led 20 minutes from time when Cristiano Ronaldo headed a Dani Carvajal cross into the back of the net.
James Rodriguez added a second for the visitors after 74 minutes as they ran out 2-0 winners.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from the Vallecas as Rayo Vallecano welcome Real Madrid. It is a vital game for the visitors, but it will not be straight-forward against a Rayo team that have found serious form in recent weeks. Let's hope for a cracker here!
Rayo might not have beaten Real Madrid in this stadium since 1997, but Paco Jemez's side have won their last four home league games, while a run of three straight league victories has moved them into ninth position. On Friday, they recorded a 2-1 win at Eibar to make it just one defeat in five.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, will enter the match off the back of a thumping 9-1 win over Granada at the weekend. That was just Los Blancos' second win in five games in all competitions, however, with that run of form leaving them second in the table. As it stands, they are seven points behind the league leaders Barcelona, who have just beaten Almeria at the Camp Nou.
Real Madrid have won 10 of their 15 away league games this season, but they have also been beaten five times. Carlo Ancelotti's side have also conceded 18 times on their travels, which is more than Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Valencia, and the same number as Athletic Bilbao and Celta Vigo. Incredibly, even struggling Eibar have conceded fewer away league goals than Los Blancos.
TEAMS:
RAYO: Cristian; Tito, Amaya, Ze Castro, Nacho; Fatau, Trashorras; Embarba, Kakuta, Bueno; Manucho
REAL: Casillas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, James, Kroos; Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first period. Let's hope for a cracking game in the Spanish capital. It is the away side that get the first half underway here.
As expected, there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium for what is a local derby. The home supporters are making their voices heard in the opening couple of minutes in Madrid.
Half-chance for the home side as Embarba delivers a dangerous cross from the left, but Ramos just manages to clear ahead of the powerful Manucho. Lively start from the hosts tonight!
Free kick Rayo in a very dangerous position...
... Bueno takes the resulting set piece, but his effort is straight into the wall. Rayo are really taking the game to Real Madrid in the early few minutes. We have a game on our hands.
We have not seen too much from Real Madrid in the opening seven minutes, with Benzema caught offside following a through pass from Modric. You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital. Rayo are so full of confidence at the moment, that is for certain.
CHANCE! The first real chance of the match falls to Real Madrid as James sets up Ronaldo with a super cross, but his volley just flashes wide of the far post. Unlucky there!
Half-chance for the home side this time as Kakuta works some space outside the box before firing one towards the bottom corner, but his effort was always swinging away from the post.
CHANCE! Another super chance for the away side as Carvajal cuts a cross back to James, who strikes it first time towards the bottom corner, but Cobeno is on hand to make the save.
Half-chance for the home side this time as Kakuta again finds some space outside the box, but his curling effort was always moving wide of the post. End-to-end football at the moment!
Casillas is again called into action to deny Bueno, who is the top scoring Spaniard in the league at the moment. Well, 15 minutes on the clock and as expected, this is a cracking game.
The home side continue to force the issue in Madrid as Manucho's presence gains another corner. Real Madrid deal with the first delivery, but it falls for Embarba, who fires high and wide of the crossbar. This is so incredibly open at the moment, which is strange at this stage!
BOOKING! James (Real Madrid) is booked for handball.
Real Madrid are keeping the ball better in the middle of the park, but they are struggling to break the final line of defence, while Rayo are a threat each time they break forward here.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Bale has the ball in the back of the net for Real Madrid, but the Welshman was just offside when he collected a through pass from Modric. Good call from the linesman.
You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital here. Rayo again threaten as Embarba delivers towards Manucho, but Ramos just clears the danger.
It is Ramos versus Manucho at the moment and the Real Madrid centre-back is winning the aerial battle. The home side are really pushing forward as we approach the half-hour mark.
Rayo's offside trap has been very successful thus far as the flag is raised once again when Real Madrid break forward. There is such a wonderful noise inside the stadium at the moment, with the home supporters liking what they are seeing. It is still goalless with 30 minutes played here.
Just a few signs that the visitors are finding their tempo here as Bale and Ronaldo exchange passes, but the move breaks down and Rayo are straight on the attack down the left flank.
SAVE! Rayo again come close as Manucho flicks a near-post corner towards goal, but Casillas manages to claim. All the attacking play is coming from the hosts at the moment.
CHANCE! Kakuta puts his goalkeeper in all sorts of trouble with a back-pass that does not carry enough weight, but Cobeno just manages to slide clear under pressure from Benzema.
You just get the feeling that Rayo need to make this pressure count in the latter stages of the first period. Real Madrid will get chances on the break, there is no question about that.
Bale remains lively for Real Madrid in the final third, but the visitors are struggling to make their passing count at the moment. Rayo's threat, meanwhile, has just dropped in the last couple.
BOOKING! Tito (Rayo) is booked for a tug on Ronaldo.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Real Madrid as Ronaldo meets a deep free kick from James, but his header clears the crossbar. That was some opportunity for the attacker.
The opening 43 minutes of this game have just flown past. Where has this half gone?!
SAVE! Incredible chance for the home side as Trashorras meets a super cross from the right, but the Spaniard's point-blank header is kept out by Casillas. What a save!
BOOKING! Nacho (Rayo) is booked for a tug on Modric.
HALF-TIME: Rayo 0-0 Real Madrid
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. Rayo have been much the better side thus far, but Real Madrid have carried a threat on the counter attack. It has been a cracking game thus far, but no goals to report in the capital.
STATS! Rayo have had more of the ball (60%), while they have had 11 attempts - three of which have been on target. That is in contrast to Real Madrid, who have managed just one attempt on target thus far. It has been some performance from the hosts tonight.
BENCH WATCH! The home side have plenty of attacking options on their bench this evening, with the likes of Aquino, Miku and Lica all capable of making a difference. Real Madrid, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Isco, Javier Hernandez and Jese Rodriguez. Plenty of talent there.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second period. More of the same from the first please, but with some goals. The hosts get the second half underway.
No changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that alterations will take place as the second period gathers pace in the capital.
No change in the flow of pressure here, with Rayo threatening once again in wide areas. Bale has a half-chance down the other end following a super ball from James, but he heads just wide.
Good possession for Real Madrid in the last couple of minutes, but their latest attack breaks down when Tito comes across to make the challenge. You really get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital here. It has been such a good game in the capital.
BOOKING! Ronaldo (Real Madrid). Oh my word! Ronaldo goes down inside the box under a late challenge from Amaya, but the referee books Ronaldo for diving. That is just about as clear a penalty as I have ever, ever seen. Awful from the referee there, wow!
BOOKING! Kroos (Real Madrid) is booked for dissent.
BOOKING! Bale (Real Madrid) is now booked for dissent.
CHANCE! Super chance for the visitors as Bale sets up Benzema with a through pass, but the Frenchman's effort whistles wide of the post. All happening at the moment!
BOOKING! Carvajal (Real Madrid) is booked for chopping down Nacho.
CLOSE! Marcelo absolutely hammers one from outside the box and it looks to be ending up in the top corner, but the Real Madrid defender's effort just missed the post.
Bale whistles one wide of the post as Real Madrid turn up the pressure here.
SUB! Rayo make their first change as Jozabed replaces Fatau.
Well, plenty has happened in this second period, but still no goals. Little over 30 minutes of football remaining in this one. Surely we are not going to finish with a goalless draw in Madrid.
Real Madrid are finding it easier to break the final line of defence at the moment and they create another half-chance as Bale sets up Ronaldo, but his effort is high and wide of the crossbar.
BOOKING! Cobeno (Rayo) is booked for time-wasting.
Half-chance for Benzema this time as the Frenchman pounces on a loose ball inside the box, but his effort is blocked as another opportunity comes and goes. Still we are level in Madrid here.
BOOKING! Amaya (Rayo) is booked for a poor challenge on Bale.
Embarba has a the chance to threaten for the home side as he finds a yard of space outside the box, but his curling effort was always comfortable for Casillas. A rare Rayo attack at this stage.
CLOSE! Real Madrid just cannot hit the target at the moment, but they come close once again as James shows excellent feet outside the box before firing just high of the crossbar.
Rayo have just managed to stem the flow of pressure with a period of possession, but they are not offering too much in the final third at the moment. Ronaldo makes another run beyond the Rayo defence, but the flag is raised and the Portuguese lets his frustration out on the linesman.
GOAL! Rayo 0-1 Real Madrid (Ronaldo)
Breakthrough! The visitors take the lead with 68 minutes on the clock as Ronaldo heads a super Carvajal cross into the back of the net. It had to be him didn't it! Massive goal here!
SUB! Rayo make their second change as Miku replaces Bueno.
You just get the feeling that we have not seen the last of the goals in this one. Rayo will push forward as the second period advances and that will leave space for Real Madrid to break.
SAVE! Super save from Casillas as the Real Madrid goalkeeper pushes a Nacho effort to safety. It was a stinging strike from the left-back and a really smart stop.
SUB! Real Madrid make their first change as Isco replaces Benzema.
GOAL! Rayo 0-2 Real Madrid (James)
Game over? Real Madrid have breathing space as James Rodriguez cuts inside before firing one into the bottom corner. It is a really good strike from the Colombian international.
Real Madrid's class has told in this second period there is no question about that. Rayo put so much into the first half, but have not had too much since the break. It could yet get worse.
Manucho is still working very hard for the home side, but the striker has not hardly any service in this second period. Little over 10 minutes of this Madrid derby remaining at the Vallecas.
Just a reminder that as it stands, Real Madrid will close the gap on Barcelona to four points. At the weekend, Real Madrid welcome Eibar, while Barcelona face a very difficult trip to Sevilla.
SUB! Rayo make their third change as Aquino replaces Embarba.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last couple of moments, but the home supporters are still in wonderful voice here. They are some of the best supporters in La Liga.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for the away side to score a third as Bale rounds Cobeno before setting up Isco, but the Rayo goalkeeper just gets back to deny the midfielder.
SAVE! Casillas is again called into action as the Real Madrid goalkeeper pushes a powerful Manucho header wide of the post. Casillas has been excellent for the visitors tonight.
Good pressure from the hosts late on as they deliver cross after cross.
CHANCE! Incredible chance for the home side to register as Tito meets a loose ball inside the box, but somehow the defender fires wide. What an incredible miss!
SUB! Real Madrid make their second change as Nacho replaces James.
Ronaldo again tests Cobeno from outside the box, but the stopper makes a smart save.
SUB! Javier Hernandez replaces Bale in Real Madrid's final change.
We are into the second of three additional minutes here.
Possession football from the home side as we approach the final seconds. Rayo are going to lose this game, but they have lost playing the right way. It has been a brilliant game in Madrid.
FULL-TIME: Rayo 0-2 Real Madrid
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Real Madrid running out 2-0 winners at Rayo to cut the gap on leaders Barcelona to four points. It is a case of 'as you were' in the race for the title. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Good evening!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
