Real Madrid in total control after some sublime football with goals from Kylian Mbappe, Alvaro Carreras and Jude Bellingham.

Out of nowhere Pedro Diaz unleashes a brilliant strike from 30 yards out for Rayo Vallecano and it is heading towards the top corner.

Thibaut Courtois has not had too much to do but flings himself to the left and gets a strong left arm to it to keep the ball out.

Inches away from number four.

The Rayo Vallecano defence are all over the place and Kylian Mbappe has so much space to get his shot away.

With goalkeeper Emil Aduero well beaten, the ball rebounds off the right-hand upright.

Real could double their score by the end of 90 minutes. Yan Diomande is the next to run at the defence and slides a pass through, aiming for Kylian Mbappe, but Emil Aduero gathers bravely.

Rayo Vallecano look like they can't cope with Real Madrid. Bernardo Silva is the next to have a go, but Pathé Ciss, already seated on the ground, manages to get a block in.

Shortly afterwards, Jude Bellingham charges forwards and shoots at goal, but it is deflected and loops over the top.

Real Madrid signed Ivory Coast international Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig for a fee worth up to £120m (140m euros) in the summer.

The 19-year-old winger runs at the Rayo Vallecano defence, but off balance, under pressure and 20 yards out, can only fire into the stands after a promising run.

There were only two minutes and 55 seconds between Real's first and second goals.

Rayo Vallecano, despite being 2-0 down, are still having chances and Sergio Camello shoots hard and low, but Thibaut Courtois gets down quickly to push it around the post. Decent save.

Vinicius Jr takes a shot and it is fumbled by goalkeeper Emil Aduero. Kylian Mbappe is closing in and all credit to Aduero as he recovers quickly to claw the ball off the line just as the France striker was about to pounce.

Real Madrid will be moving level with Barcelona on 12 points, but need to score another six goals if they are to end the night top of the league.

Barca will be looking to continue their 100% league record when they play at Levante tomorrow (15:15 BST).

Alvaro Carreras is brought down by former Newcastle man Florian Lejeune. No question about it. Kylian Mbappe to take it.

Giorgi Tsitaishvili has the first attempt on target for the away side and he shoots hard and low. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is behind it and spills it, but gets lucky as there are no Rayo Vallecano players close enough to take advantage.

At the other end, Federico Valverde shoots left footed but well over the bar.

Kylian Mbappe runs at the Rayo Vallecano defence, produces a step over, is blocked off by Unai Lopez and goes down in the penalty area.

Mbappe wants a penalty but no joy and it is waved away.

Pedro Diaz goes for an incredibly optimistic shot from 40 yards out for Rayo Vallecano, but it is not really worth the effort as Thibaut Courtois wasn't too far off his line and can easily gather it.

It looks good if it goes in, not so much if the goalkeeper saves it easily.

As mentioned, Rayo Vallecano are down in 14th, but they will feel they should be much higher as they have dropped eight points from winning positions in La Liga in the 2026-27 season, more than any other team in the competition this term.

A first involvement for Vinicius Jr, picking up the ball on the left wing and charging forwards for Real. He gets to the edge of the penalty area, but his pass cannot find a team-mate as he is crowded out by the away defence.

Under way at the Bernabeu.