Real Madrid 2-1 Rayo: Rodrygo wins it for Real Madrid and pays tribute to Vinicius

After the controversy of recent days, you might have forgotten there was some actual football to be played this midweek in LaLiga Santander.

Real Madrid hosted Rayo Vallecano, without Vinicius Junior, not suspended, but injured, and Los Blancos came out on top with a 2-1 victory.

Midway through the first half, Karim Benzema got the opener for the home side with his 30th strike of the season.

A lovely reverse pass from Fede Valverde split the Rayo defence open and Benzema showed great composure to dance round Dimitrievski and slot home.

The goal was shrouded in controversy, however, as the attack came from a drop ball where Rayo were expecting to receive the ball back.

Seconds later they were 1-0 down and incensed by the lack of sportsmanship shown by Real Madrid.

Much of the game was played with Madrid in control but not pushing too much, as if content to keep the score at 1-0. A risky strategy if understandable at this stage of the season.

Late drama thanks to Raul De Tomas

A late Rayo surge almost saw Madrid's lack of ruthlessness backfire, however, when Raul De Tomas equalised with six minutes of regulation time remaining.

After receiving the ball from Pep Chavarria, he thumped a slow strike past Thibaut Courtois at his near post.

This woke Real Madrid up and they were in no mood to lose this game. Rodrygo looked particularly keen to make something happen and five minutes later he carried the ball towards the box and placed the ball calmly into the bottom-right-hand corner from the edge of the area.

In celebration, just like Benzema earlier, he raised a clenched fist in a clear show of solidarity for Vini Jr in light of the horrendous racial abuse he suffered at the weekend in Valencia.

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