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MADRID, Nov 5 (Reuters) - In a match fraught with missed opportunities, Real Madrid had to settle for a goalless stalemate against Rayo Vallecano at their home ground on Sunday, a result that saw them slip to second place in La Liga, trailing behind the surprising front-runners, Girona.
Despite taking the offensive lead and unleashing a barrage of 22 shots, Real Madrid couldn't find the back of the net, marking the first instance this season where the team's offensive line failed to produce a goal. This draw places Carlo Ancelotti's squad at 29 points, just two points adrift of Girona, who secured a 4-2 victory over Osasuna on Saturday. Barcelona is nipping at their heels in third place with 27 points, following a nail-biting 1-0 victory against Real Sociedad.
Ancelotti remained unfazed by the lack of goals, citing the team's varied attempts and considering it an anomaly in the sport. He praised his team's approach and the creation of numerous scoring opportunities but acknowledged the disappointment of the outcome. "The lack of a finishing touch hurt us today, yet I still believe the team's overall performance was solid," Ancelotti reflected.
Rayo Vallecano's defensive strategy was notably effective, with goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski notably thwarting shots from Federico Valverde and Joselu. Vinicius Jr's moment of triumph was short-lived when his 66th-minute goal was dismissed due to an offsides call.
Rayo's Raul de Tomas, in a post-game chat with DAZN, lauded his team's execution, saying, "The squad put on a united front, and despite the intimidation of playing in such a renowned venue, we delivered a commendable performance, and I'm extremely proud of everyone's effort."
Looking ahead, Real Madrid will welcome Braga to their home turf for their next Champions League showdown on Wednesday.
