Benzema's 13th-minute finish ultimately settled the points

Thibaut Courtois made two injury-time saves as Real Madrid earned a narrow home win over Rayo Vallecano to go third, at least for a day.
Karim Benzema got the winner with a confident 13th-minute finish for just his second goal in 13 La Liga games.
Lucas Vazquez had a shot cleared off the line before Toni Kroos hit the post, and Emiliano Velazquez went close for Rayo.


Sergio Ramos had a goal disallowed for offside, before Courtois' late heroics.
Ex-Manchester United forward Bebe had already tested the Belgium keeper with a stinging drive from long range by the time Courtois blocked a 92nd-minute bicycle kick from Alex Alegria in the penalty area, also fencing away Velazquez's follow-up.
Wales forward Gareth Bale was absent with an ankle problem as Real beat one of their city rivals to record a third consecutive clean sheet for the first time in the Spanish league since September 2015.
Frenchman Benzema, 30, hobbled off injured after a blow to his shin, with Brazilian 18-year-old Vinicius Junior replacing him for the final 12 minutes.
Santiago Solari's side are now two points behind leaders Barcelona, who play at Levante on Sunday at 19:45 GMT. Sevilla can climb back above Madrid when they host Girona on Sunday.
Rayo remain second bottom in 19th, four points from safety.
Real Madrid next play in the Club World Cup semi-finals against Japanese side Kashima Antlers in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, a 16:30 GMT kick-off.
The other semi-final will be played between Copa Libertadores winners River Plate of Argentina and UAE champions Al Ain.
Earlier on Saturday, Atletico Madrid moved level on points with Barcelona in second as Antoine Griezmann scored the winner in a 3-2 victory at 12th-placed Real Valladolid.




    Line-ups
    Match Stats
    Live Text

Line-ups

Real Madrid

    25Courtois

    2Carvajal

    5Varane

    4Ramos

    12Marcelo

    10ModricSubstituted forValverdeat 90+2'minutes

    18Llorente

    8Kroos

    17Vázquez

    9BenzemaSubstituted forPaixão de Oliveira Júniorat 78'minutes

    20AsensioSubstituted forCeballosat 71'minutes

Substitutes

    1Navas

    3Vallejo

    15Valverde

    19Odriozola

    22Isco

    24Ceballos

    28Paixão de Oliveira Júnior

Rayo Vallecano

    13Dimitrievski

    2Román Triguero

    20Velázquez

    23GálvezBooked at 39minsSubstituted forBaat 54'minutes

    7Moreno Lopera

    4MedránSubstituted forDias Correiaat 54'minutesBooked at 64mins

    17Advíncula

    12ImbulaBooked at 83mins

    27Comesaña

    18García

    11EmbarbaSubstituted forAlegría Morenoat 73'minutes

Substitutes

    1García

    14Dias Correia

    15Alegría Moreno

    21Ba

    22Pozo

    28Akieme

    29Moreno

Referee:

Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea

Attendance:

55,229

Match Stats

Home TeamReal MadridAway TeamRayo Vallecano

Possession

Home69%

Away31%

Shots

Home9

Away11

Shots on Target

Home4

Away3

Corners

Home4

Away4

Fouls

Home15

Away18

Live Text

Posted at
Match ends, Real Madrid 1, Rayo Vallecano 0.Full TimePosted at 90'+4'
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 1, Rayo Vallecano 0.
Posted at 90'+4'
Foul by Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid).Posted at 90'+4'
Santiago Comesaña (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half.SubstitutionPosted at 90'+2'
Substitution, Real Madrid. Federico Valverde replaces Luka Modric.Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt missed. Santiago Comesaña (Rayo Vallecano) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Bebé with a cross following a corner.Posted at 90'+1'
Corner, Rayo Vallecano. Conceded by Sergio Ramos.Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt blocked. Emiliano Velázquez (Rayo Vallecano) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt saved. Emiliano Velázquez (Rayo Vallecano) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt saved. Álex Alegría (Rayo Vallecano) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Emiliano Velázquez with a headed pass.Posted at 90'
Offside, Rayo Vallecano. Bebé tries a through ball, but Álex Alegría is caught offside.Posted at 89'
Foul by Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid).Posted at 89'
Álex Moreno (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick on the left wing.Posted at 87'
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Emiliano Velázquez.Posted at 87'
Attempt blocked. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lucas Vázquez.BookingPosted at 83'
Giannelli Imbula (Rayo Vallecano) is shown the yellow card.Posted at 83'
Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 83'
Foul by Giannelli Imbula (Rayo Vallecano).Posted at 81'
Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.Posted at 81'
Foul by Álex Moreno (Rayo Vallecano).SubstitutionPosted at 78'
Substitution, Real Madrid. Vinícius Júnior replaces Karim Benzema because of an injury.Posted at 78'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.Posted at 77'
Delay in match Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) because of an injury.Posted at 77'
Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 77'
Foul by Álex Alegría (Rayo Vallecano).Posted at 74'
Attempt missed. Giannelli Imbula (Rayo Vallecano) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Álex Alegría.Posted at 74'
Attempt blocked. Bebé (Rayo Vallecano) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Álvaro García.Posted at 73'
Attempt missed. Luka Modric (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Karim Benzema.SubstitutionPosted at 73'
Substitution, Rayo Vallecano. Álex Alegría replaces Adrián Embarba.Posted at 72'
Foul by Karim Benzema (Real Madrid).Posted at 72'
Bebé (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half.SubstitutionPosted at 71'
Substitution, Real Madrid. Dani Ceballos replaces Marco Asensio.Posted at 70'
Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 70'
Foul by Álvaro García (Rayo Vallecano).Posted at 68'
Attempt saved. Bebé (Rayo Vallecano) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Álex Moreno.Posted at 66'
Attempt missed. Luis Advíncula (Rayo Vallecano) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Bebé.Posted at 65'
Foul by Toni Kroos (Real Madrid).Posted at 65'
Tito (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 65'
Offside, Real Madrid. Toni Kroos tries a through ball, but Sergio Ramos is caught offside.BookingPosted at 64'
Bebé (Rayo Vallecano) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Show more updates

goal

Source: bbc.com