After failing to find the net for the first time under Xabi Alonso this season against Liverpool in midweek, the visitors came close to a breakthrough within three minutes this afternoon, but Augusto Batalla got down smartly to deny Arda Guler’s fierce effort.
Rayo were forced to soak up plenty of early pressure before creating a decent opportunity of their own when Pathe Ciss sent Andrei Ratiu hurtling into the Real box, but Thibaut Courtois closed the angle well and made the stop.
That only heralded Los Blancos’ best period of the half as pressure on the home goal intensified. Jude Bellingham’s knockdown was turned goalwards by Vinicius Junior, but Batalla’s reactions were on point again and he denied the Brazilian.
The veteran goalkeeper could only stand and watch Raul Asencio’s header flash past the post as he ghosted into the area to meet Alvaro Carreras’ cross. Rayo then did well to contain the away side until half-time, while a Nobel Mendy header over the top was the best they created at the other end.
Inigo Perez’s side began the second half with confidence, and came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock when Jorge de Frutos couldn’t quite pick out the bottom corner from close range.
Back came Real, for whom Guler sent an arcing effort inches wide, before Bellingham forced Batalla into another save from a tight angle, and at the hour mark, Kylian Mbappe’s curling effort flew across goal and a whisker wide.
The Vallecas crowd were growing in belief despite Alvaro Garcia twice firing over from a good position and requiring the ever-impressive Batalla to bat away a rasping Federico Valverde strike as the match entered its latter stages.
With four minutes to play, Batalla smothered an Eder Militao header to secure a well-earned point, and improve Rayo’s recent purple patch to just one loss in nine in all competitions.
For Real, it’s a first draw in competitive matches since mid-June, and the first time they have gone two without a win since early April.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Augusto Batalla (Rayo Vallecano)
