Despite fresh rumors about Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid managed to hold a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano.

After learning that Kylian Mbappe will leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season, Real Madrid was left feeling frustrated in their first game. 

While last-place Almeria made history by becoming the first team to go 28 games without winning a league game, Real Madrid could lose its lead in the Spanish league after being held to a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

Almeria’s 25th straight game without a victory this season ended in a 1-1 draw at Granada. 

It has also lost its final three games of the previous campaign.

After it became known that Kylian Mbappé would be leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season, Madrid was disappointed in their first game and allowed the Spanish superpower to try again to recruit the France international.

A question was posed to Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti on the impact of the rumors surrounding Mbappé’s potential signing on his squad.

“When has this team not been focused?” stated Ancelotti. “This season, it’s difficult to say anything negative about this team.”

Three minutes into the game against its opponent from southern Madrid, Raúl de Tomás converted a penalty kick to give the home team an equalizer.

However, Joselu gave Madrid the lead.

Madrid now leads second-place Girona by six points after the draw. Girona will host fifth-place Athletic Bilbao on Monday.

Eight points behind Madrid was third-place Barcelona, which defeated Celta Vigo 2-1 on Saturday thanks to a Robert Lewandowski penalty shot completed in stoppage time. 

Eleven points behind the lead was fourth-place Atletico Madrid, who thrashed Las Palmas 5-0 at home on Saturday.

Madrid’s performance against a Rayo squad that had lost its previous three league games and hadn’t triumphed in seven was unsatisfactory.

“We want to win every game, but you have to lose the games you can’t win in order to win the league,” Ancelotti stated.

“There are draws that hurt sometimes, but they can also be a step in the right direction toward winning the league.”

With 14 victories and 5 draws in their last 19 league games, Real Madrid is still undefeated. 

It only failed to score once, in November’s 0-0 tie with Rayo.

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Jude Bellingham, who hurt his ankle during Madrid’s victory against Girona the previous weekend, was still out of commission. 

Once more, Brahim Díaz took his place, playing in attack with Vinícius Júnior.

This season, Luka Modric hasn’t started many games. 

He was in midfield, and Aurélien Tchouaméni, along with Nacho Hernández, once more made do as a center defender.

In the second half, Toni Kroos made his 450th appearance for Real Madrid by coming off the bench.

Coach Íñigo Pérez, a 36-year-old former player, made his head coaching debut with Rayo. 

He took Francisco Rodríguez’s spot after a string of unsuccessful games.

There have been 10 games without a win for the team at home. It is eight points above the relegation zone in 14th position.

Dani Carvajal, a right back for Real Madrid who had joined the game in the 75th, was sent with a second yellow card far into stoppage time.

ALMERIA WINLESS

Almeria broke Levante’s record of 27 games without a league victory in 2021 and 2022.

Sporting Gijon has gone winless in their most recent season.

Marc Pubill gave Saudi-owned Almeria the lead in the ninth minute, but Myrto Uzuni’s goal in the 75th minute gave the home team an equalizer.

Cadiz, who has lost 21 straight league games this season, is ahead of Granada in the standings, which is second-to-last.

SOCIEDAD WINNS LATE

Sixth position Thanks to a stoppage-time goal by Mikel Merino, Real Sociedad defeated Mallorca 2-1 to snap a five-game losing streak in all competitions.

Takefusa Kubo, a Japan international, added another goal for Sociedad. 

Four minutes in, Mallorca had taken the lead thanks to a goal from Antonio Sánchez.

In the first half stoppage time, Antonio Raíllo received two yellow cards in quick succession, the second one coming after he applauded the referee, which put Mallorca in 16th position. 

In stoppage time in the second half, Siebe van der Heyden was also sent off for Mallorca

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