Golden Mbappé puts Real Madrid back on track with rout of Vallecano

Real Madrid rediscovered their winning touch in La Liga on Saturday evening, thumping Rayo Vallecano 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu in the fifth round of matches. The result lifted them level on 12 points with leaders Barcelona, and Kylian Mbappe stole the show with two goals and an assist.

Los Blancos needed a response. Beaten by Real Betis in the previous round, they went into the game hoping to keep the pressure on Barcelona, having ground out a midweek win over Inter Milan despite an unconvincing display.

Superiority told early. Mbappe opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 14th minute after Carreras was hauled down inside the box, and Carreras himself doubled the lead three minutes later, latching onto a clever pass from the Frenchman.

The hosts kept pressing. Jude Bellingham made it three in the 35th minute, converting a cross from Vinicius Junior, who turned in an influential performance of his own as Madrid went in 3-0 up at the break.

Then came the wobble. Madrid's level dropped noticeably after the interval, and Rayo Vallecano pounced on the confusion when Camello pulled one back in the 51st minute, cashing in on a sloppy back pass from Vinicius Junior.

For the final half hour Madrid rode their luck as Rayo pushed for a way back into it, but Thibaut Courtois was brilliant and kept the Royal side in front. Mbappe put the game to bed in the first minute of stoppage time, drilling home a fourth from a tight angle.

Three precious points. The win returned Madrid to winning ways and drew them level with Barcelona at the summit of La Liga.