Summary

  • Bale scores four before being replaced

  • Five goals and two reds in first 30 minutes

  • Rayo reduced to nine men

  • Real five points off Barca & Atletico at start

  • Rayo Vallecano in relegation zone

  1. goal

    GOAL - Real Madrid 3-2 Rayo Vallecanopublished at 30 mins

    Cristiano Ronaldo

    Cristiano Ronaldo scores a penatlyImage source, Getty Images

    Cristiano Ronaldo gives Real the lead. The keeper guessed right but Ronaldo's penalty was good enough to find the corner.

  2. Postpublished at 28 mins

    A free-kick comes in with Raul Baena holding onto Sergio Ramos' shirt. That's his second booking and he's off. It's a penalty too.

  3. RED CARD TO RAYO VALLECANOpublished at 28 mins

    Raul Baena

    Jose Raul Baena is shown a red cardImage source, Getty Images

  4. PENALTY TO REAL MADRIDpublished at 28 mins

  5. YELLOW CARDpublished at 28 mins

    Are Rayo Vallecano going to end with fewer than 10 men? Nacho is booked for hacking down Danilo. They're losing their heads at the Bernabeu.

  6. Bale Madridpublished at 25 mins

    Real Madrid 2-2 Rayo Vallecano

    Gareth Bale celebratesImage source, Reuters

    This is one of the most entertaining games I've seen this season but Tito's red card has really cost Rayo Vallecano here. Danilo whips in an excellent cross from the right which Gareth Bale powers past the keeper with a header. And Real still have over an hour to score again.

  7. goal

    GOAL - Real Madrid 2-2 Rayo Vallecanopublished at 25 mins

    Gareth Bale

    Gareth Bale scores with a headerImage source, AP

  8. Postpublished at 24 mins

    Good bit of skill from Gareth Bale to get some space coming into the box but goalscorer Antonio Amaya gets it out for a corner.

    The kick comes in and Sergio Ramos heads over unmarked from 12 yards out. That should probably be 2-2.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:25 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2015

    Former Real Madrid midfielder Michel is currently Marseille manager.

  10. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 22 mins

    Rayo Vallecano make a tactical change as defender Quini replaces Pablo Hernendez. They needed to reshuffle after losing a player so early.

  11. Postpublished at 21 mins

    Gareth Bale takes the free-kick from about 25 yards, it's not a bad effort - it sort of swerves and bounces - but keeper Yoel is able to catch the ball.

  12. YELLOW CARDpublished at 20 mins

    Rayo's Raul Baena hacks Toni Kroos outside the box and Real Madrid have a free-kick in a dangerous position. Yellow card.

    What has Kroos done to these guys to deserve this treatment?

  13. Postpublished at 15:21 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2015

    Cristiano Ronaldo looks dejectedImage source, ge
  14. Postpublished at 18 mins

    This is turning into a classic, Danilo has a chance to level it up again but he's denied by a Yoel save. 

    Gareth Bale attempts an overhead kick but barely makes contact and then Luka Modric lashes a shot wide from 20 yards out.

    There's going to be more goals.  

  15. YELLOW CARDpublished at 17 mins

    Rayo had captain Roberto Trashorras booked for complaining about Tito's red card. Not sure they could have many legitimate complaints to be honest once they see it again.

  16. RED CARD FOR RAYO VALLECANOpublished at 15 mins

    Well, are Real Madrid back in this? Rayo Vallecano's Tito is shown a straight red card for a late, studs-up two-footed tackle on Toni Kroos. A really dangerous tackle - deserved to go.

  17. Postpublished at 14 mins

    And Keylor Navas has to pull off a good save to deny Jozabed - that could have been Rayo's third goal in three minutes.

  18. Real Madrid 1-2 Rayo Vallecanopublished at 12 mins

    This is unbelievable. There are whistles from the home fans even before Jozabed scores Rayo Vallecano's second headed goal in the space of two minutes. Genuinely remarkable scenes at the Bernabeu.

  19. goal

    GOAL - Real Madrid 1-2 Rayo Vallecanopublished at 12 mins

    Jozabed

    Jozabed Sanchez celebratesImage source, EPA

    Wow.

  20. Real Madrid 1-1 Rayo Vallecanopublished at 10 mins

    Rayo Vallecano, who started today in the relegation zone, are level. A corner comes in and Antonio Amaya, once of Wigan, beats Pepe in the air to head home. Real keeper Keylor Navas gets a touch but it's not enough.