Real Madrid vs. Rayo Vallecano: Score, Reaction from 2015 La Liga Match

Real Madrid were inspired to a 10-2 win over the nine men of Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, thanks to four goals from Gareth Bale, a Karim Benzema hat-trick and a Cristiano Ronaldo brace.

Danilo scored after just three minutes to gift Real an early lead, but Antonio Amaya and Jozabed hit back within two minutes of one another to turn the lead in Rayo's favour. However, Tito and Raul Baena were then sent off in a wild opening 30 minutes, which swung the match decisively in the home side's direction. 

Ronaldo converted the spot-kick that resulted from Baena's dismissal to make it 3-2, and Bale's second of the afternoon made it 4-2 at the break. Madrid's "BBC" front line then cashed in throughout the second half, bringing Los Blancos' total into double figures.

The Sun's Phil Cadden contrasted Real's scoring fortune against that of Manchester United, who suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Norwich City on Saturday:

Rafa Benitez had a full-strength squad to choose from, and it was just as well for a manager who was under pressure to bounce back from an embarrassing 1-0 loss at Villarreal a week ago.

Right-back Danilo thrust his side into the lead after just three minutes, per Sky Sports Statto, but it wasn't long until Rayo were right back in the fixture and fighting for a shock result of their own:

Amaya equalised after just 10 minutes before Jozabed headed Rayo Vallecano into a shock lead just two minutes later.

That flurry of action left Real in a spin, but their hopes were boosted dramatically when Tito was sent off for a late tackle on Toni Kroos. ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan found it difficult to debate the red card:

Having set up the first, Bale got his first of the day at the 25-minute mark to pull Real level before Baena's second caution of the first half left Rayo in dire straits. Kieran Canning of Agence France-Presse saw it as a "very soft" decision, but Ronaldo stepped up to slot home the ensuing spot-kick:

Playing against nine men, Bale got his second of the match before the half was out, and Squawka Dave broke down his match-turning performance by the numbers:

The best was yet to come for Madrid, and while some might have questioned their performance against a full-strength Rayo, they were assuredly taking their chances with a two-man overlap.

Although he failed to get on the sheet himself, James Rodriguez had an outing to remember, as he set up Benzema for the first score of the second half before teeing up Ronaldo to head in a powerful second of the game, per TNC Extra:

"

Ronaldo! 6-2 #RMAvRVM https://t.co/B6wgILgowm

— TNC Extra (@TNC_Extra) December 20, 2015"

The travelling team were well and truly in damage-control mode with 30 minutes remaining, and Bale completed his second Real Madrid hat-trick to make it 7-2:

The Welshman added a fourth with his less favoured right foot before coming off for Alvaro Arbeloa after an inspired display, leaving Benzema to take over his threat on goal and add another two before full time.

The France striker has been in fine form since returning from injury earlier this month, and the Rayo defence was clearly struggling to deal with his presence as the final whistle approached, per Goles Real Madrid:

"

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL de Benzemá 9-2 pic.twitter.com/m1mYCI1cYl

— Goles Real Madrid (@GolesRealMadrid) December 20, 2015"

That being said, Canning couldn't help but notice some hostility among home supporters, who perhaps weren't so quick to forget the slow start from their side:

Sunday's win marks the second time in December Madrid have managed to put eight goals past an opponent, although the fortunate circumstances of the Rayo victory didn't evade those in attendance.

The visitors will wonder what might have been had the decision to send Baena off gone otherwise, especially considering Rayo looked impressive prior to being reduced to just nine men.

Los Blancos now sit just two points off Barcelona and joint leaders Atletico Madrid, but Atleti have the chance to establish a three-point cushion when they travel to Malaga on Sunday evening.

Post-Match Reaction

Francisco Seco/Associated Press

It's not every day a team can revel in a 10-goal triumph, but even amid all the positives of Sunday's win, there were points at which Benitez noted his side could have improved.

There was the sentiment that Baena didn't deserve to be sent off, but Benitez told the media he wasn't willing to speculate on such portions of the game (h/t Spanish newspaper AS):

"

There were three phases in the game: first when we scored, the second when we conceded twice—we have to improve our concentration—and the third when the team imposed itself, above all, because of numerical superiority. ...

We all saw that after we went 1-0 up we weren't playing well, but it was a very short period of the match. After that we did what we had to do. I'm not going to judge the referee's decisions.

"

Benitez will leave Sunday's fixture content with how it played out, but opposing manager Paco Jemez had far more cause for concern, suggesting decisions aren't going in favour of his side: "There have been plenty of games where we have been on the receiving end of situations that didn't benefit us. I didn't say anything then and I'm not going to now."