Real Madrid ease past Rayo 4-1 after dominant 1st half

Real Madrid defeated Rayo Vallecano 4-1 at home Saturday in La Liga after building a three-goal first-half lead before the visitors produced a much stronger second-half performance.

Rayo produced the first opportunity in the ninth minute when Giorgi Tsitaishvili's low effort was saved by Thibaut Courtois. Madrid took control shortly afterward.

The hosts were awarded a penalty in the 13th minute after Florian Lejeune brought down Alvaro Carreras inside the penalty area.

Kylian Mbappe converted from the spot a minute later to put Madrid ahead.

Madrid doubled their advantage in the 17th minute after Vinicius Jr intercepted Lejeune's attempted backpass, with Mbappe then setting up Carreras to make it 2-0.

Madrid threatened a third with Vinicius Junior and Mbappe before Rayo responded with Sergio Camello, whose effort forced Courtois into a diving save.

Jude Bellingham made it 3-0 in the 35th minute, finishing from Vinicius Junior’s cutback after being left unmarked inside the penalty area.

Mbappe nearly added another before halftime when his powerful effort struck the post. Courtois produced a fine save from a long-range effort at the other end as Madrid went into the break three goals ahead.

Rayo returned for the second half with greater intensity and immediately threatened, hitting the post with a long-range effort in the 47th minute.

The visitors were rewarded four minutes later when Camello capitalized on a Madrid mistake and finished under Courtois to narrow the deficit to 3-1.

Rayo continued to cause problems, with Tsitaishvili forcing another save from Courtois before heading over from a promising position in the 64th minute.

Madrid gradually regained control, with Audero denying Denzel Dumfries and substitute Arda Guler.

Mbappe eventually added his second in second-half stoppage time, driving a powerful right-footed effort across the goal and into the bottom corner after being set up by Guler.

The 4-1 victory took Real Madrid to 12 points in five matches. Rayo remain with four.

Saturday's La Liga results

Racing Santander 2-1 Alaves

Osasuna 0-2 Espanyol

Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Elche