Mbappe Scores Last-Gasp Madrid Derby Winner Against Rayo Vallecano

LONDON, Feb 2 (Bernama-PA Media/dpa) -- Kylian Mbappe’s penalty in the 10th minute of stoppage time secured a dramatic 2-1 victory for Real Madrid over lowly Rayo Vallecano to cut Barcelona’s lead at the top of La Liga, reported PA Media/dpa.

Real were fast running out of time for a winner when Nobel Mendy’s wild kick in a crowded box felled Brahim Diaz, and Mbappe stepped to comfortably dispatch his 22nd league goal of the season.

Vinicius Junior’s 15th-minute finish had earlier been wiped out by Jorge de Frutos straight after the break.

Rayo finished the contest with nine men after red cards for Pathe Ciss and Pep Chavarria.

Ciss went for an ugly 80th-minute challenge on Dani Ceballos, and Chavarria received a second yellow card in the final seconds for pushing Rodrygo over.

In what was an eventful Madrid derby, Real also lost Jude Bellingham to a suspected hamstring injury.

The last-gasp victory sees Real trail Barcelona by a single point after 22 league games.

--BERNAMA-PA MEDIA/dpa