Rayo Vallecano 2 - Real Madrid 3

Rayo: Etxeberria; Mario, Corino, Mainz, Dorado; Azkoitia (Camuñas 88'), Onopko; Julio Alvarez (De Quintana 82'), Mora, Peragón; Bolo. 4-2-3-1.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Hierro, Iván Helguera, Roberto Carlos; Makelele, Cambiasso (Morientes 76'); Figo, Zidane (Guti 32'), Solari (Miñambres 60'); Ronaldo. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Rayo: Dorado, Azkoitia, Peragón for Graff, Quevedo, Tal / Madrid: No change.

Goals:
0-1. 16. Ronaldo. Ran on to Figo through ball to shoot past Etxeberría.
1-1. 28. Azkoitia. Ran past defence and fired shot across Casillas off post.
1-2. 58. Roberto Carlos. Shot through Bolo's legs after short Figo free kick.
2-2. 75. Julio Alvarez (penalty). After Azkoitia tripped up by Makelele.
2-3. 93. Figo. Curled free kick into corner of net with keeper caught wrong-footed.

An injury time free kick from Figo gave Real Madrid a victory at city neighbours Rayo Vallecano which took them up to third place pending Sunday's games. With Raúl still not fully recovered from his gastro-enteritis, Del Bosque stuck to the same side which drew in La Coruña the week before, once more leaving out an unhappy Guti who had complained during the week about being dumped unceremoniously from the side. Fernando Vázquez had his share of problems too on the other bench, dropping Quevedo from the squad after he had lead a rebellion against the manager.

Real Madrid had not won in the last six games, and Ronaldo was under pressure after not scoring since their last victory against Alavés. The Brazilian striker was up against his wife Milene's side, and much of the pre-match banter was about whether he would be brave enough to score. But Ronaldo showed clearly whose side he was on with a quarter of an hour on the clock, running on to a precision through ball from Figo to shoot powerfully past Etxeberría. The lead only lasted ten minutes or so though, Azkoitia finding the defence opening up before him as he ran forward, and without thinking twice he unleashed a shot which caught Casillas unprepared, the ball flying across him and in off the far post.

Soon after the goal Guti got his wish, Del Bosque bringing him on to replace a limping Zidane who could be doubtful for the upcoming Champions League game at Genk. Without the intimidating presence of the French star though Rayo started to grow in confidence, and Julio Alvarez hit the post soon after the restart. As often happens though, the play went up the other end, and after Figo was brought down on the edge of the area, Roberto Carlos drilled a shot through the legs of Bolo in the defensive wall from a short set-piece free kick to put the visitors back in front.

There had been some talk before the game whether Julio Alvarez would be allowed to play as he was on loan from Madrid, but after the Munitis incident the club decided not to push the matter. The under 21 international was to score the equalising goal though from the penalty spot after referee Rodríguez Santiago ruled that Azkoitia had been fouled by Makelele in the area. It was a dubious decision, and looked far less a penalty than two prior incidents earlier in the half, or one soon afterwards when Salgado blocked a free kick with his arm with the referee looking the other way.

The goal was the seventh of the season by Julio Alvarez, and his fifth from the penalty spot. With the home fans though celebrating a draw, Madrid were awarded a free kick outside the area. Roberto Carlos dummied, and Figo came in from the other side to catch Etxeberría wrong footed with a curling shot into the corner of the net. Incredibly it was the European Champions first away win in the league for six months, and leaves Rayo only a point away from the bottom three. Ronaldo went home to Milene a happy man.