Real Madrid leave it late to beat Rayo in local derby

Relegation-threatened Rayo Vallecano nearly pulled off the shock of the season but three goals in the last five minutes gave Spanish league leaders Real Madrid an undeserved and lopsided 3-1 victory in their derby match on Saturday.

Real have now gone 48 league games at home without defeat but they were staring defeat in the face for most of the match against their modest neighbours from the Spanish capital's southern industrial suburbs until Fernando Morientes got an equaliser five minutes from time.

Morientes' header, from a Roberto Carlos cross, clearly demoralised Rayo, who must have felt they were on the verge of a memorable victory.

Javier Portillo got the winner with another header, this time Santiago Solari provided the service, as normal time ran out and then Morientes added to Rayo's misery with his second goal deep in injury time.

Rayo strikers Luis Cembranos and Michel Sanchez had two good efforts go close in the opening skirmishes before Cembranos sent a free kick across the face of the area after nine minutes.

The ball was clearly intended for Roberto Peragon but neither the Rayo striker nor Real's Ronaldo got near the swerving ball which also evaded Real goalie Iker Casillas.