Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema scored as Real Madrid beat Rayo Vallecano 2-1 on Saturday to go atop LaLiga.

The first chance fell to Rayo’s Alvaro Garcia, who shot wide inside the first minute. Madrid got on top after that, Vinicius Junior having a goal ruled out for offside and Benzema shooting over the bar before Kroos put them ahead after an intricate move involving Marco Asensio and Vinicius. Rayo goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski reacted smartly to prevent an Alejandro Catena own goal and then Benzema made it 2-0 from David Alaba’s pinpoint cross.

After half-time, Vinicius went close to scoring with a long, mazey dribble, Benzema curled over after Ferland Mendy’s quick-thinking backheel and Asensio shot wide following tenacious work from Dani Carvajal. Bebe hit the post and substitute Radamel Falcao scored with a header to leave Madrid hanging onto the three points, clearing off the line in the final moments.
Positives

Real Madrid’s defending has been hit and miss all year, but there’s no doubt that in Alaba and Eder Militao they have two top ball-playing centre-backs, who will contribute plenty going forward. Alaba’s left foot has caught the eye already — just think of his Clasico goal against Barcelona — but his cross for Benzema’s goal here was as sweet a delivery as you’ll see all season. One first-half Militao run, meanwhile, was reminiscent of Sergio Ramos at his rampaging best.

Asensio has been a frustrating player to watch for years now, and this season has been no exception. He’s hugely talented, but at 25 has still not found a way to apply that talent with any consistency. He had played well once this year — scoring a hat trick against Real Mallorca in a new midfield role — before disappearing from view. Here, he played well back on the right wing, causing constant problems for Madrid youth product Fran Garcia.

Negatives

Rayo have surprised everyone this season, looking remarkably well-organised and well-drilled — and enjoyably adventurous — for a newly promoted side under up-and-coming coach Andoni Iraola. They came to the Bernabeu ready, and caused Madrid problems as a result, especially towards the end at 2-1 when the home crowd got justifiably nervous.

Falcao hadn’t played at the Bernabeu in eight years, since the 2013 Copa del Rey final, and had never scored at this stadium. The 35-year-old came off the bench with 20 minutes left and wasted no time in heading past Thibaut Courtois to set up a tense finale with Courtois saving the team in added time.

Manager rating out of 10

6 — Carlo Ancelotti made just two changes to the team that beat Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 in midweek, Eduardo Camavinga and Asensio coming in for Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez. He is set on a familiar 4-3-3 for now, without too many tactical surprises. The team delivered here, taking two of their first-half chances, but came under serious pressure later when Ancelotti didn’t seem to have the answers.