Incredible and ridiculous, Real score 10 goals against Rayo
Gareth Bale scored four times as Real Madrid came from behind to beat nine-man Rayo Vallecano 10-2 in a wild game at the Santiago Bernabeu to close the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid to two points.
It is the first time in 55 years that a team has scored 10 goals in a La Liga game.
However, the Madrid fans still voiced t heir disapproval towards under fire coach Rafael Benite z after Real found themselves 2-1 down inside 12 minutes. Red cards inside half an hour for Tito and Raul Baena opened the floodgates, though, as a double from Cristiano Ronaldo and a hat-trick for Karim Benzema added to Bale’s most prolific day in three years as a Madrid player.
Atletico have the chance to extend their lead at the top back to five points later on Sunday when they visit Malaga. Madrid president Florentino Perez had restated his support for Benitez in midweek after rumours suggested he was one defeat away from the sack after losing 1-0 at Villarreal last weekend. Real had won their previous 14 meetings against their humble rivals from across Madrid and looked well set for another routine afternoon when Bale teed up Danilo for the opener after just three minutes. Yet, Madrid’s defensive deficiencies in recent weeks were exposed again when Antonio Amaya rose highest to head home Roberto Trashorras’s corner. NEVILLE STILL WINLESS New Valencia coach Gary Neville remains without a La Liga win after his side twice recovered from a goal down to rescue a fortunate 2-2 draw at home to Getafe on Saturday. Valencia were held 1-1 at Eibar in Neville’s Spanish top-flight debut last weekend and while their latest performance showed promise it also underlined how much work he still has ahead to turn the Singapore-owned club’s fortunes around.