Real Madrid stumbled to a 1-1 draw against hosts Rayo Vallecano, missing the opportunity to temporarily extend their lead at the top of La Liga to eight points on Sunday. With this draw, Carlo Ancelotti's team increased their tally to 62 points at the top of the standings from 25 matches, maintaining a six-point lead over Girona, who could cut the gap to three points if they win against Athletic Bilbao on Monday. The home team raised their total to 25 points, sitting in 14th place.
Real Madrid took an early lead just three minutes into the match with a goal from Joselu, who scored from close range after receiving a cross from Federico Valverde. Rayo Vallecano equalized in the 27th minute with a penalty awarded by the referee for a handball by Eduardo Camavinga, following a VAR review. Real Madrid played with ten men since the fourth minute of stoppage time after Dani Carvajal was sent off for a second yellow card for elbowing a Rayo Vallecano player.
