Defensive Dread: Rayo Vallecano Exposes Real Madrid's Woes
1 February 2026
Match recap
Madrid's fragile defense showed no signs of relief as they hosted Rayo Vallecano in La Liga's 22nd round, a fixture that exposed the Madrid club's lingering defensive frailties.
Real Madrid took the lead through Brazilian star Vinícius Júnior in the 15th minute, only for Jorge De Frutos to equalize for Rayo right after the start of the second half in the 49th minute.
Kylian Mbappé rescued the Merengues with a stoppage-time penalty at 90+10, lifting coach Alvaro Arbeloa's side to 54 points, just one behind leaders Barcelona.
Opta reported on Sunday that Real Madrid have conceded 94 goals in 76 matches across all competitions since the start of 2025.
Only Eintracht Frankfurt (96 goals in 55 games) have shipped more goals among teams in the big five European leagues since 2025.
The crisis deepened after a 4-2 loss to Benfica at the end of the Champions League group stage, sending Madrid into the knockout playoffs.
What’s next
Madrid now faces a nervy run of fixtures as the season heats up, with questions about their defensive shape and who will marshal the back line. Fans might need a sense of humor, perhaps a tactical reboot, or a few squad adjustments to calm the storm.
Punchlines: 1) If defending were a crime, Madrid would be serving a lifetime sentence. 2) The only thing more set in stone than their rotation is my calendar when Friday arrives.
