Real Madrid 3 - Rayo Vallecano 1

Real Madrid: César; Michel Salgado, Hierro, Iván Helguera, Roberto Carlos; McManaman, Makelele, Zidane (Figo 76'), Solari; Raúl (Flavio 80'), Morientes (Guti 71'). 4-4-2.
Rayo: Imanol Etxeberria; Ferrón (Cota 87'), Hernández, De Quintana, Graff; Pablo Sanz (Glaucio 80'), Quevedo; Peragón (Bolo 64'), Vivar Dorado , Michel; Bolic. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Madrid: McManaman for Pavón / Rayo: Hernández, Vivar Dorado for Corino, Glaucio.

Goals:
1-0. 10. Etxeberria (own goal). Turned in after R. Carlos deflected shot hit post.
2-0. 39. Morientes. Took Raúl through ball to touch on and beat keeper.
3-0. 78. Figo (penalty). After Hernández tripped Guti inside area.
3-1. 88. Hernández. Got ahead of Guti to head corner across keeper.

Real Madrid held on to top spot with a comfortable 3-1 victory over city rivals Rayo Vallecano. With every match now vital, Del Bosque did not rest any of his star players and put out a side very similar to the one who were beaten late on by Bayern Munich on Tuesday night. The only differences in fact were the absence of Pavón, suffering from lumbago, with Helguera dropping back to defence and McManaman coming in on the right of the midfield 'diamond', and Morientes back at centre forward in place of Guti. Hernández came back in to Gregorio Manzano's side after a one match ban, replacing Corino who was himself suspended. The visitors got off to a good start, Michel heading over in the fifth minute from Peragón's cross. However five minutes later they went behind somewhat unfortunately when a long shot by Roberto Carlos deflected off De Quintana on to the post, and the rebound hit Etxeberria on the back of the foot to bounce back into the net. There was no luck though about Madrid's second goal, Raúl slipping a pass through for Morientes to pull the ball past the keeper with his right foot and roll it in to the net with his left shortly before the break. The big striker celebrated his goal in curious fashion, at first pushing away Roberto Carlos and then the other players before finally giving in to their embraces, apparently a pre-rehearsed move as a protest for being left out of the games at Barcelona and Munich.

Manzano brought on Bolo in the second half, and Bolic went close twice in a minute, shooting wide and then bringing a good save out of César. Madrid went very close to scoring soon afterwards though, Morientes rounding the keeper and hitting the post with the goal at his mercy, and Raúl hitting the bar on the follow up. Del Bosque brought on Guti for Morientes a minute later, the striker leaving to a mixed reception by the fans, and within five minutes Guti made his mark, falling under a challenge by Hernández in the area to win his side a penalty. Figo had only just come on to the field before the incident, his manager giving him his first run out since returning from injury, and with his first touch of the ball he had his name on the scoresheet, ramming home the penalty kick. With two minutes to go Rayo got a well deserved consolation goal when Hernández headed home a corner, but the defeat leaves them back down in the relegation spots in next to bottom place. Madrid recorded their sixth league win in their last seven games to keep them ahead of Valencia on goal difference at the top of the table and give them a boost of confidence for Wednesday night's return tie against Bayern Munich.