Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Real Madrid - La Liga leaders head to draw after Joselu goal cancelled out by Raul de Tomas penalty

Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by city rivals Rayo Vallecano as they went six points clear at the top of the La Liga table.

A physical Madrid derby ended with honours even. The result is one neither side should be too disappointed by, with Real at least briefly extending their lead at the top of the standings over Girona.

For Vallecano, it will be a well earned point to herald in the new coach Inigo Perez, and one which they will hope will signal the start of a revival of fortunes as well as possibly a bounce back up the table.

Both goals came in the first half with Real taking advantage of what would prove to be their only real chance of the game, as striker Joselu slotted home from a Federico Valverde cross in the third minute.

Rayo were able to physically force their way into the match and were rewarded with a penalty in the 26th minute, when a shot from Oscar Trejo was judged to have hit Eduardo Camavinga’s arm on its way over the bar.

Raul de Tomas netted the equaliser from the spot. Neither side was able to take charge of the game after that with possession roughly even, good chances few and far between.

The closest either side came to a winner was in the 80th minute, when a majestic free kick from midfielder Toni Kroos was matched by a superb save by Real Vallecano keeper Stole Dimitrivieski.

A feisty affair closed with a straight sending off for Madrid’s substitute Dani Carvajal in added time.

It is not an insult to say that Rayo Vallecano do not have the ability in their squad that Real Madrid have. It's not that the league table doesn't lie, but it doesn't lie to the tune of 15 places.

Despite this gulf, Vallecano earned themselves a point and made up for a talent differential by playing to their strengths. Literally. They used their physicality to hassle and hustle. Yes, they went up to the line, and even over it a few times - it was no surprise that this was a many-booking match - but the key point is they prevented Madrid from playing as silkily as they would like, physically forcing open the match and making chances for themselves the hard way. Because there would be no easy way against a team as good as Real.

Few teams take points off Real Madrid, home or away. The only teams that have managed to put a dent in their record have done so by being disciplined and organised at the back. No-one was more disciplined or organised today than Vallecano centre-half Florian Lejeune. Whichever man he was tasked with marking at any given point in the match, Lejeune stayed by his side and refused to allow him space to create half chances, let alone whole ones. Madrid might have bossed the final third of the pitch, but at no point did they make serious inroads into the box. Lejeune was why.

VALLECANO: Dimitrievski 7; Espino 7, Lejeune 8, Hernandez 6, Balliu 6; Garcia 7, Valentin 6, Lopez 5; Palazon 6, Raul de Thomas 7, Trejo 7… Subs: De Frutos 5, Crespo 6, Perez 6, Falcao 6, Camello 5

MADRID: Lunin 6; Vazquez 7, Fernandez 6, Tchouameni 6; Garcia 7, Valverde 8, Modric 7, Camavinga 6, Diaz 6; Junior 5, Joselu 6… Subs: Carvajal 5, Kroos 7, Guler 6, Rodrygo 6

3' - Goal for Real Madrid! A ferocious start from the visitors. Madrid break with Valverde down the right, who crosses to find Joselu in acres of space. After a check for offside the tap-in stands.

26' - Penalty for Vallecano! Oscar Trejo shoots from distance and its deflected over the bar off Camavinga. After some deliberation and a look at the video replay, referee Ruiz decides it hit his arm unnaturally.

27' - Goal for Vallecano! Dispatched with ease by the one they call RDT. Hit straight hard down the middle, as Lunin dived to his left.

90'+5 - Carvajal sent off! Moments after being booked, he receives his marching orders, but that looked more like a straight red than a second yellow. Crespo was pulling his shirt and in response Carvajal swung for Crespo's midriff.

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