Madrid back on track with Rayo win
Real Madrid kept Barcelona in their sights as an early goal from
Karim Benzema put them on their way to a 2-0 win over Rayo Vallecano -
but they remain eight points behind the Catalan side, who are yet to
drop a point this season.
Benzema struck after 13 minutes and Cristiano Ronaldo added a second
mid-way through the second half as Jose Mourinho's side came out on top
in the match suspended on Sunday due to floodlight failure caused by
sabotage.
In injury time Jose Casado was dismissed for the home side after
receiving his second yellow card.
The green light was finally given to play the game on Monday evening
at Rayo's Estadio de Vallecas ground in what was a tough battle for
Madrid against city rivals Rayo with the pressure on after Barcelona
beat Granada 2-0 on Saturday, their fifth win in succession, while
Madrid had only one.
“We played as a team but we could still have been better. We were
committed, which is important and it allowed us to win without
problems,” said Mourinho afterwards.
“It has been a strange situation with the postponement and it has
been complicated to prepare for this but it was the same for both teams.
We overcame it and although it wasn't a great win, we did enough. We had
a lot of chances to score while they had few.” Rayo coach Paco Jemez
felt that his side did well but the quality of Madrid shone through in
the end.
“Against top sides it isn't enough just to compete. I can't criticise
the team though, quite the opposite, I congratulate them for their
effort,” he said.
“We had the game more or less under control and it was when we were
at our best that we conceded the second.”
Sergio Ramos returned to the side after being dropped for Madrid's
Champions League victory over Manchester City last week, while Michael
Essien was also given the nod over Sami Khedira to partner Xabi Alonso
in front of the defence in a more offensive formation than against the
Premiership side as Luka Modric returned.
Jemez has shown an admirable commitment to attacking football and
they faced the champions with two wingers in Jose Carlos and Lass
Bangoura, who had full licence to go forward.
Apart from a dangerous header from Pepe, saved by keeper Ruben
Martinez, Rayo took the game to Madrid, who were reduced to committing a
series of fouls and Essien was yellow carded for a handball.
However, Madrid conjured up an excellent goal on the counter-attack
which spanned the length of the pitch and was finished off by Benzema,
who knocked the ball in from close range from a Angel Di Maria cross on
the left.
Madrid were not comfortable at the back and Alvaro Arbeloa gifted the
ball to Lass at the start of the second half but he failed to control
with just Casillas to beat.
In an open game Essien and Ronaldo shot narrowly wide as did Jose
Carlos for Rayo before Ronaldo's penalty decided the game after 70
minutes.
It was the Portuguese's cross that was handled by centre-half Jordi
Amat and Ronaldo took the spot-kick, sending the keeper the wrong way.
Minutes later Ronaldo could have extended Madrid's advantage but he
hit the post from a Gonzalo Higuain pass with the goal gaping.
In the second minute of injury time frustration got the better of
Casado. who left his foot in as he challenged Mesut Ozil and was given
his second yellow card.
MADRID, TUESDAY, AFP
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