Real Madrid falls to modest Rayo Vallecano

Madrid, November 8 (PL)-- The honeymoon with Real Madrid is over and the end of an unblemished streak in the Spanish LaLiga has its own name: the modest and lightning Rayo Vallecano.

Without spectacular figures, except for a star of the past and on the bench, the Colombian Radamel Falcao, and with a limited budget, the club from the popular Madrid neighborhood of Vallecas downed Los Merengues 3-2 in one go, taking advantage of the disastrous performance of almost all their players.

In fact, with the exception of Balearic Marco Asensio and to a lesser extent Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, the absence of France's Karim Benzema and Germany's Toni Kroos (injury and suspension), laid bare a crisis of under-delivery that is accentuated as the Qatar World Cup approaches.

In any case, it does not take away any merit from Rayo Vallecano, with goals from Comesaña, Alvaro García and Trejo (penalty), and an absolute application to offensive and high block play, with good performances also from Isi Palazón and Fran García.

The result allows Barcelona (34 points) to become more than ever the leader of the tournament, with a two-point lead over Real Madrid (32). The last day of LaLiga, due to the World Cup break, pits the Catalans against the dangerous Osasuna (23).

Jagoba Arrasate's rojillos of Pamplona will have the opportunity on their home turf to stand up to Xavi Hernandez's azulgranas, and to overtake Atletico Madrid (24 points) and Betis (24) in the table, pending their respective results against Mallorca and Valencia.

Osasuna is based on an incisive style, which never gives up attacking, few passes and permanent siege in search of a goal. Their high pressure and vertical projection make them a very uncomfortable opponent.

In front of them, a Barcelona team that likes to play with the touch, the overflows on the sides and the presence of an extraordinary "killer" in the area, the Polish Robert Lewandowski.

The fourteenth date of the Spanish league will end on Thursday, to mark the break when, in truth, all eyes are already focused on Qatar and on the world championship that will start next November 20 and will last until December 18.