Kylian Mbappé converted a penalty in stoppage time, and Real Madrid rescued a 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday to move back within a point of leader Barcelona in La Liga. Vinícius Júnior also scored for Madrid after being booed again by fans at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. He will face Benfica again in the playoffs. Mbappé scored his eighth goal in his last five matches for Madrid, a last-minute penalty that allowed Álvaro Arbeloa's team to keep pace with Barcelona, who beat Elche 3-1 on Saturday. The boos directed at Vinícius subsided after he scored magnifically in the 15th minute. Jude Bellingham, who was also booed when the lineup was announced, had to be replaced in the 10th minute due to an apparent left hamstring injury. Madrid came into the match having lost 4-2 to Benfica, a defeat that left the team outside the top eight automatic spots for the Champions League round of 16. The Brazilian international got past three defenders before sending a right-footed shot into the top corner. Vallecano, who played with a man less from the 80th minute after Pathé Ciss was sent off with a straight red card for a hard foul, equalized the score thanks to Jorge De Frutos in the 49th. Vallecano, who threatened at times at the Bernabéu, also saw Pep Chavarría receive a second yellow in the final minutes of stoppage time.
