Mbappe fires as Real Madrid maintains pressure
Real Madrid moved level on points with LaLiga leader Barcelona after quick-fire goals from Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior earned it a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano.
Carlo Ancelotti's side leapfrogged Atletico Madrid in the standings after its shock defeat to Getafe earlier in the day, with the top three separated by just a point.
Barca, due to face Atletico next Monday, has a game in hand after its match against Osasuna on Saturday was postponed due to the sudden death of their team doctor.
Madrid was ahead in the 30th minute when Mbappe cut inside and bundled his way into the box before rifling the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.
The host side doubled its advantage four minutes later when Vinicius danced his way around the Vallecano defence and finished past Augusto Batalla.
In the second minute of first-half stoppage time, Pedro Diaz's thunderous effort that cannoned off the crossbar following a fine passage of play halved the deficit.
Mbappe went close to notching his second of the game eight minutes after the restart, but his curling strike narrowly evaded the far post.
Los Blancos should have put the game to bed late on, but Vinicius somehow fired wide from inside the box after being found by Luka Modric's wonderful delivery.
