Jose Mourinho’s side got back to winning ways after a defeat by Real Betis in their previous top-flight outing, with a convincing victory against neighbours Rayo. Jude Bellingham and Alvaro Carreras were also on target for Real Madrid, while Sergio Camello pulled one back for the visitors early in the second half. Kylian Mbappe struck twice to help Real Madrid smash Rayo Vallecano 4-1 on Saturday to pull level with Barcelona at the top of La Liga. Champions Barcelona visit Levante on Sunday looking to extend their 100 percent start to the campaign and restore their lead on Madrid.
Benat San Jose’s side, 15th, had further chances to score but Courtois pushed out Giorgi Tsitaishvili’s drive and an effort from Lejeune.
Mourinho’s side took a commanding three-goal lead against Rayo by half-time. “We killed the game in the first half — that’s not easy, working like we did after the Champions League game, not just physically, but mentally. Mourinho defended Vinicius in midweek after some Madrid supporters whistled him in the Champions League win over Inter Milan. It was the Spanish forward’s sixth goal of the campaign, making him joint-top scorer with Barcelona’s Raphinha and Mbappe.
“(It was) fundamental to win, above all after losing the last game in La Liga,” Mourinho told Real Madrid TV.
Mourinho Praises Arda’s Impact on Team Stability
Jose Mourinho highlighted Arda’s significant contribution to the team’s performance, stating, “Arda is very good, he’s got a lot of quality, he influences the team’s play in a good way and today he made a difference in terms of the stability of the game.” This acknowledgment comes after a match where Arda’s presence was pivotal in maintaining the team’s composure and effectiveness on the field.
