Real Madrid Held to 1-1 Draw at Rayo Vallecano in Spanish League

Rayo Vallecano's Spanish defender #05 Aridane Hernandez heads the ball next to Real Madrid's Spanish forward #14 Joselu during the Spanish league football match Rayo Vallecano de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at the Vallecas stadium in Madrid on February 18, 2024. (AFP)
Rayo Vallecano's Spanish defender #05 Aridane Hernandez heads the ball next to Real Madrid's Spanish forward #14 Joselu during the Spanish league football match Rayo Vallecano de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at the Vallecas stadium in Madrid on February 18, 2024. (AFP)
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Real Madrid Held to 1-1 Draw at Rayo Vallecano in Spanish League

Rayo Vallecano's Spanish defender #05 Aridane Hernandez heads the ball next to Real Madrid's Spanish forward #14 Joselu during the Spanish league football match Rayo Vallecano de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at the Vallecas stadium in Madrid on February 18, 2024. (AFP)
Rayo Vallecano's Spanish defender #05 Aridane Hernandez heads the ball next to Real Madrid's Spanish forward #14 Joselu during the Spanish league football match Rayo Vallecano de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at the Vallecas stadium in Madrid on February 18, 2024. (AFP)

Real Madrid could see its Spanish league lead reduced after being held to a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

Joselu put Madrid ahead only three minutes into the match against its southern Madrid rival, but the hosts equalized through Raúl de Tomás in the 27th.

The draw moved Madrid six points clear of second-place Girona, which visits fifth-place Athletic Bilbao on Monday.

Third-place Barcelona, which won 2-1 at Celta Vigo on Saturday with a stoppage-time penalty kick converted by Robert Lewandowski, was eight points behind Madrid. Fourth-place Atletico Madrid, which routed Las Palmas 5-0 at home Saturday, was 11 points off the lead.

It was a disappointing result for Madrid against a Rayo team that had lost three consecutive league matches and hasn't won in seven straight.

Real Madrid remains unbeaten in its last 19 league games, with 14 wins and five draws. It failed to score only once, in a 0-0 draw against Rayo in November.



New Man United Boss Amorim Says He’s Ready for the Challenge

 Sporting Lisbon's Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim (C) and players acknowledge supporters at the end of the Portuguese League football match between SC Braga and Sporting CP at the Municipal stadium of Braga on November 10, 2024. (AFP)
Sporting Lisbon's Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim (C) and players acknowledge supporters at the end of the Portuguese League football match between SC Braga and Sporting CP at the Municipal stadium of Braga on November 10, 2024. (AFP)
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New Man United Boss Amorim Says He’s Ready for the Challenge

 Sporting Lisbon's Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim (C) and players acknowledge supporters at the end of the Portuguese League football match between SC Braga and Sporting CP at the Municipal stadium of Braga on November 10, 2024. (AFP)
Sporting Lisbon's Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim (C) and players acknowledge supporters at the end of the Portuguese League football match between SC Braga and Sporting CP at the Municipal stadium of Braga on November 10, 2024. (AFP)

New Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim said he is under no illusions about the difficulty of the task he faces when he moves to England from Portugal but he is looking forward to the challenge.

The Premier League club announced Amorim's appointment earlier this month, with the 39-year-old Portuguese set to arrive from Sporting on Monday on a contract until June 2027.

Amorim, who replaces sacked Dutchman Erik ten Hag at United, marked his final game as coach of Sporting with a 4-2 comeback victory at Braga on Sunday.

"I feel ready for the new challenge," he told reporters after the match.

"I'm not naive, I know it's going to be very different, very difficult. I'm at peace now, I can focus on my new job and I'm looking forward to starting tomorrow."

Considered one of Europe's brightest young managers, Amorim's first match is slated for Nov. 24 at promoted Ipswich Town in the Premier League.

United are 13th in the league on 15 points from 11 matches, four points adrift of Chelsea in third. Interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has guided the side to three wins and a draw in all competitions since Ten Hag was fired on Oct. 28.

"I know it will be difficult to reproduce what I have here elsewhere, but there are other places with different exposure and pressure ... It's been a fantastic adventure," said Amorim, who has won the Primeira Liga twice with Sporting.

"I apologize for this mid-season decision, but I felt it was my time and my way."