Quini earns a booking for a late challenge on Ramos inside the Madrid box. There can be no doubting that one!
There is the final whistle!
90' +1
We are into the first of an additional two minutes.
90'
WHAT A CHANCE! Ronaldo spots Medran storming up on the right and lays the ball into his path with a clever backheel. The midfielder attempts to guide a shot under Alvarez and into the net but the keeper manages to deny him!
88'
Manucho is allowed space to get the ball out of his feet just outside the box. He then snaps a low effort towards Navas' near post, but he fails to hit the target.
86'
Ronaldo continues his record of scoring in every single Liga appearance he has made this season, with his total tally now standing at 18!
84'
J. Hernández enters the game and replaces G. Bale.
Álvaro Medrán enters the game and replaces K. Benzema.
Medran comes on for Benzema following the fifth goal, and moments later Chicharito is introduced, with Bale making way.
83'
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Isco.
GOOOOOOOOAAAL! RONALDO SCORES! It's another incisive breakaway from Madrid, with Isco sliding a pass behind the defence for Ronaldo. He cuts inside of Ba with ease and fires a tame shot along the ground. It is straight at Alvarez, but the keeper lets it slip through his grasp and into the net!
82'
It looks like Ancelotti is going to take this opportunity to give Medran another run-out for a few minutes.
80'
WHAT A SAVE! Bale controls a lose ball 20 yards from goal and then lashes a thunderous effort towards goal. It is bending towards the top corner and the keeper gets a hand to it, diverting the ball behind with a little help from the crossbar.
79'
Licá gets yellow.
Minute
Description
78'
Ronaldo picks up the ball on the right and spots Benzema making an unmarked run towards the centre from the opposite flank. He attempts to pick him out but his pass is poor, and the Frenchman can't stop it going out for a goal kick.
76'
The tempo of the game has begun to slow now, with Madrid seemingly confident that they have done enough to take all three points from this game.
74'
SO CLOSE! Jozabed dinks a diagonal pass into the box and Navas comes off his line to try and claim it. He gets nowhere near it, though, and Ba glances a header towards goal. It looks sure to be going in but bounces just outside of the post!
73'
Kakuta is the man to strike the free kick, which hits the wall before looping behind for a corner.
72'
Manucho Gonçalves enters the game and replaces Léo Baptistão.
Ramos is penalised for a tackle from behind on Bueno as the goalscorer tried to shield a pass from the centre-back. He has no complaints about it, and Rayo have an opportunity to test the keeper.
71'
To their credit, Rayo are continuing to push men forward to try and find a route back into this game. No luck so far, though, and they need to be careful not to leave themselves exposed to the counterattack.
69'
GOOD SAVE! Bale slides a lovely pass into Ronaldo as he darts into the box. The Portuguese attempts to sneak a shot inside the near post but Alvarez has his angles covered, parrying the shot out for a corner.
68'
Isco enters the game and replaces J. Rodríguez.
Ancelotti makes his first change, with Isco coming on to replace James.
67'
Madrid look to counter as Benzema feeds Ronaldo on the halfway line and surges forward. The Portuguese looks to come inside before laying the ball off to his overlapping team-mate. The striker looks to dink a cross into the middle for Bale but Alvarez comes off his line to claim it.
65'
STAT: Ronaldo has assisted four of Madrid's last six goals in La Liga.
63'
Benzema gets away down the right and his cutback to the top of the box is met by Modric, but the Croatian's shot at goal is blocked by the Rayo defence.
62'
Jozabed enters the game and replaces Roberto Trashorras.
Jemez makes his second change, introducing Jozabed for the experienced Trashorras.
61'
That will really knock the wind out of Rayo's sails! Two goals in four minutes put los Blancos into a commanding lead heading into the remaining 30 minutes.
59'
K. Benzema has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Cristiano Ronaldo.
GOOOOOOAAAAL!! MADRID MAKE IT FOUR! Pepe rolls the ball out to Ronaldo and the Portuguese sends a cross-cum-shot into the centre of the box. Benzema looked a few yards offside before diverting it into the back of the net, but the flag stays down!
57'
What a sucker punch for Rayo! Moments after thinking they'd drawn level, they go 3-1 down. Madrid can't afford to step off the gas again now, and should instead look to kill this game off.
56'
Tito gets yellow.
55'
T. Kroos has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Cristiano Ronaldo.
THE EQUALISER... is ruled out! Bueno curls a lovely pass in behind the defence as Madrid are caught short at the back. Leo Baptistao takes a touch and slots it into the net, but is adjudged offside!
GOOOOOOOAAAL!! WHAT A FINISH FROM KROOS! Ronaldo does superbly on the right, coming inside before prodding a pass to tee up Kroos 20 yards out. The Germany international uses his instep to guide a sweet shot into the bottom corner! Alvarez could possibly have done better, but that was a lovely effort.
53'
MODRIC! The Croatian nearly doubles his side's advantage with a curling left-footed effort from Bale's cutback. He tries to guide it into the top corner at the near post but narrowly misses the target!
52'
Rayo earn a corner, their fifth of the game, as Kakuta's attempted cross is sent behind by Nacho. Trashorras takes it short and the eventual cross to Ba at the back post is poor, evading the defender's head.
50'
Pepe is patched up and jogs back onto the field with a little dressing on his head to cover the cut. Rayo put some decent crosses into the box in the last few minutes but they couldn't exploit their advantage.
48'
Pepe seems to have got a cut on his head from that challenge, so has to leave the field for treatment. Madrid temporarily down to 10 men.
47'
Rayo ping a cross from the left towards the back post, and Ba gets up to challenge Pepe. The Rayo man gets his head on it and fails to hit the target, but the Madrid centre-back stays down on the deck. He's not happy with that challenge.
46'
We are back underway!
45' +1
Madrid win a free kick just outside the box and Bale is given the opportunity to take it. His 20-yard effort drops onto the roof of the net, and the referee subsequently blows for half time.
45'
M. Fatau gets yellow.
There will be one minute of added time.
44'
Alberto Bueno has scored a goal for Rayo Vallecano! Assist by Léo Baptistão.
Kakuta manges to pick out Tito in space in the box but the defender's shot is kept out of the bottom corner by a good save from Navas.
GOOOOOOAAAL!! RAYO PULL ONE BACK! What an error from James! The Colombian passed the ball straight to Leo Baptistao inside the box, and the Brazilian moved it away from Navas and to the feet of Bueno. The former Madrid man then completes the simple finish, passing it into the back of the net!
42'
Jemez won't be happy with his side for conceding a goal from poor marking just before half time. Had they gone in at just 1-0 down he could have given them some positive encouragement. Now, though, turning this around is a tall order.
40'
Sergio Ramos has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Pepe.
GOOOOOOAAAL!! Bale's brilliant work wins Madrid a corner, and James swings it in from the right. He finds Ramos, who volleys it into the back of the net off his knee! He might not have meant it, but that was a lovely finish and he is certainly pleased!
39'
OFF THE BAR! Kroos takes the corner on the near side and his delivery finds Benzema. The Frenchman connects with a great header that goes behind off the frame of the goal!
38'
GREAT SAVE! James picks the ball 30 yards from goal and comes forward before firing a left-footed shot at goal. It looks to be sailing into the top corner until Alvarez leaps to his left and claws it behind for a corner!
36'
Marcelo gets to the byline and stands a cross up at the back post. Bale is lurking in the hope of connecting, but it is too close to Alvarez and the keeper claims it close to his line.
35'
Rayo have actually made more passes than Madrid in the first half, and they have done so with great accuracy!
33'
Well, while there is only one goal in it, Rayo will keep a quiet confidence about them. They've kept their heads well despite going a goal behind, and Alvarez hasn't had an awful lot to do since the goal.
31'
WIDE OF THE TARGET! Quini makes his first contribution with a curling ball from the right flank that Leo Baptistao connects with. He steers his header towards the far corner and watches it bend narrowly wide of post!
30'
Bale and Ronaldo switch wings, so the Portuguese is the man to receive the ball out on the right. He attempts to angle a pass into the path of Benzema's diagonal run but Ba tracks it and intercepts the ball.
29'
Rayo aren't offering much of a threat now, with Madrid controlling possession and passing well in midfield.
27'
Ronaldo dribbles across the top of the box from the left wing, trying to create space for a shot. Instead he opts to slide a pass to the feet of Bale, but the Welshman was in an offside position!
25'
Quini enters the game and replaces E. Insúa.
It is indeed the end of Insua's game, and his replacement is former Castilla player Quini. He will go to right-back, with Tito coming across to the left.
24'
Insua has stayed down after an awkward landing, and it looks like that might spell the end of his evening! However, after a moment of treatment he hobbles back onto the field.
23'
The crowd aren't happy! Madrid broke brilliantly with Ronaldo being slipped in behind Ba. The Portuguese would go through one-on-one but the centre-back brings him to ground with a tackle from behind. There are claims for a free kick, and a potential red card, but instead the referee allows for play to continue.
22'
Rayo have a corner as Navas struggles to cope with Bueno's swerving shot from 25 yards. The Costa Rica international just about managed to pal the effort around the post, but the resultant set piece comes to nothing.
21'
GREAT EFFORT! Nacho misses a header and the ball falls kindly for Leo Baptistao. He bears down on goal before sending a stinging drive at goal. Navas is confident enough to hold it, but gets enough on it with his palms to take it out of the danger area.
20'
Lica arrows in another cross from the right but once more Ramos is first to it. Madrid attempt to break and Trashorras is penalised for a late challenge on James. Free kick to los Blancos.
18'
OVER FROM RONALDO! More impressive build-up from the hosts, with Benzema picking James out just outside the box. The Colombian shifts it left for Ronaldo, who manages to get a shot away, but his poor first touch means he gets under the ball and blazes his effort over the top.
16'
The corner is sent to the near post and Bueno manages to somehow turn into space on the byline. He cuts the ball back towards the penalty spot but again Ramos is there to make a crucial interception.
15'
Insua pushes up on the left and drills a low cross into the centre, which Ramos slides in to clear. It heads straight back to the Argentine and he floats the ball back in, and Marcelo has to clear it behind for a corner.
13'
The Vallecas side are being very patient in possession, but their lack of urgency is encouraging complacency. Fatau is caught on the ball by Kroos and he uses it to feed Ronaldo to his right. The Portuguese shifts it inside and fires a left-footed effort at goal which doesn't stretch Alvarez.
11'
Leo Baptistao moves out to the right and after a nice passage of interlinking passing play, the Brazilian drills the ball into the box. He aims it straight at Navas, though, and the keeper holds onto it.
9'
G. Bale has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by T. Kroos.
GOOOOOOAAAAL!! BALE IS BACK WITH A BANG! Trashorras is caught on the ball and Madrid counter, with Ronaldo sliding a great ball down the channel for Kroos. The German fires it across the face of goal, taking Alvarez out of the equation. It falls to Bale inside the six-yard box, and he slides it into the vacant net!
7'
Kakuta has seen quite a bit of the ball in the early stages, and he comes in off the left and has a pop at goal. His shot never really looks like worrying Navas as it bounces wide of the far post.
5'
Lica picks up the ball and clips a great ball towards the back post for Leo Baptistao. The striker struggles to read the path of the cross, though, and ends up watching it fly over the top of his head and out for a throw.
3'
Ronaldo throws a few stepovers at Tito and moves inside from the left flank. He lashes a powerful shot towards goal and Alvarez is able to hold it at the second time of asking.
2'
Modric flicks a lovely pass into James before spinning his marker to latch onto the return. He strides into the Rayo half and attempts to clip a diagonal pass in behind the defence for Ronaldo, but there's a little too much power on it and the Portuguese can't stop it going out.
1'
We are underway in Madrid!
Hello and welcome to this LIVE commentary as Real Madrid welcome local rivals Rayo Vallecano to the Santiago Bernabeu. Los Blancos are currently enjoying a fine run of form, with 12 straight victories in all competitions. They will be hopeful of maintaining their winning run into the international break against Paco Jemez's men, and I, Tom Webber, will be guiding you through all the action.
Real Madrid have not dropped a single point against Rayo in 14 years, since a goalless draw in March 2000. Since then, los Blancos have recorded 12 wins. They will be keen to maintain that record as they have slipped to second in La Liga today, following Barcelona's 2-1 win over Almeria. Victory tonight would send them back to the top, though.
REAL MADRID TEAM NEWS: Following his substitute appearance against Liverpool in midweek, Gareth Bale returns to the starting line-up at the expense of Isco after a three-week spell on the sidelines. Iker Casillas, Alvaro Arbeloa and Raphael Varane all drop to the bench with Keylor Navas, Nacho and Pepe coming in.
RAYO TEAM NEWS: Paco Jemez makes five changes to the team that suffered a 3-2 defeat at home to Eibar on Monday. Tono is unavailable so Cristian Alvarez starts in goal, while Emiliano Insua and Lica are among those to come into the starting XI.
Real Madrid substitutes: Casillas, Varane, Arbeloa, Medran, Aguza, Isco, Chicharito.
Rayo (4-2-3-1): Alvarez; Tito, Ze Castro, Ba, Insua; Trashorras, Fatau; Lica, Bueno, Kakuta; Leo Baptistao.
Ronaldo is in fantastic form this season. The Portuguese has scored in every Liga appearance he has made this season, with an astounding total of 17 goals from his nine outings so far. Furthermore, he has found the back of the net in five of the last six meetings between these two sides.
Rayo have only ever managed to take three points away from the Bernabeu once in 15 visits. A 2-1 win back in January 1996 remains their only win at the home of Real Madrid. They've been playing some good football, but a huge challenge awaits them in just a few minutes!
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Navas; Nacho, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Kroos, James; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
HALF TIME - Real Madrid 2-1 Rayo: Bale gave the hosts an early lead and Ramos doubled it shortly before half time. Jemez's men have looked confident in possession all evening, though, and their play was rewarded with a goal just before the break as James' error left Bueno with a simple finish. Los Blancos have by no means got this wrapped up, so stick around for the second half!
FULL TIME - Real Madrid 5-1 Rayo: It was not a vintage performance from los Blancos, but it's ended up appearing to be a comfortable victory for them at the Bernabeu. Two goals in quick succession from Kroos and Benzema helped put it beyond doubt, and Ronaldo added the glossy finish late on.
Madrid return to the top of the table with that result, restoring their two-point advantage over Barcelona. That is all we have time for tonight. My name is Tom Webber, and I would like to thank you for joining me!
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