Real Madrid are hoping to close back to within one point of Barcelona in the La Liga title race, and they are on course to do after taking an early lead against Rayo Vallecano.
Alvaro Arbeloaβs side suffered a major blow inside the opening 10 minutes when Jude Bellingham was forced off with a suspected hamstring injury, but they have bounced back well from that setback. Soon after, Vinicius Junior twisted and turned his way to the edge of the box, and from there, he found the top corner.
π¨π¨| GOAL: VINICIUS JR SCORES THE OPENER!!!
Real Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
β CentreGoals. (@centregoals) February 1, 2026
VinΓcius JΓΊnior ends his goal drought! π§π·
The Brazilian scores his first LALIGA goal since October and it's a stunner π₯
ππππ πππ‘ππ ππ¦ @sbk | 18+ | πππππ π πΊπππππ π ππ ππππ ππππ¦
β Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) February 1, 2026
VinΓcius Jr. puts Real Madrid in the lead! π₯
β ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 1, 2026
Itβs a big moment for Vinicius, who had received strong boos from the Bernabeu crowd in the opening stages, but the fans are now on his side. On a personal level, it is also his first La Liga goal in almost four months, since he struck twice in the 3-1 home victory over Villarreal in early October.
Earlier in the weekend, Real Madrid head coach Arbeloa defended his continued use of Vinicius, and he has been rewarded for this faith.
