Karim Benzema Struck Very Late as Real Madrid Opens Big Gap on La Liga Table With Rayo Vallecano Win

• Frenchman Karim Benzema continued to carry Real Madrid on his back with another important contribution
• Benzema scored late as Real Madrid struggled past Rayo Vallecano 1-0 on Saturday night in the Spanish capital
• The win sees Los Blancos opening up a sizeable nine-point lead at the top of the La Liga table over Sevilla

Benzema sunk Vallecano with an 83rd minute strike, taking his season tally to 29 goals in what was a scrappy encounter. The result put pressure on Sevilla as they now have no choice but to beat Real Betis in the El Gran Derbi on Sunday night.

Once again, Los Blancos could not score a goal in the first half, an unwanted tally that has gone up to eight consecutive matches. It was also the fifth match out of six that they could not score more than once in total.

Their lack of punch could prove problematic against more testing opponents, with a Champions League second leg against Paris Saint-Germain and then the second LaLiga Clasico of the season against Barcelona both approaching next month.

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A superb start to the campaign had Rayo in the hunt for the European places a few weeks ago but four consecutive defeats had seen them drop to 12th before kick-off.

They pushed Madrid hard here but were made to pay for a lack of ruthlessness in the final third, with Benzema and Vinicius Junior's quality not for the first time proving decisive.

Marco Asensio and Benzema both had early chances but Rayo were the better team in the first half, drawing Madrid into a scrap and harrying them into mistakes.

Casemiro was particularly out of sorts but thought he had given Madrid the lead, banging a bouncing ball into the net after winning an aeriel duel with Alejandro Catena.

The goal was ruled out, though, after replays showed he had pushed Catena in the back.

Both teams had chances early in the second half. Vinicius Junior's finish from six yards had to be blocked before Thibaut Courtois did brilliantly to deny Mario Saurez from heading Rayo in front.

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But Rayo tired and Madrid turned the screw in the last 20 minutes, Luka Modric curling against the crossbar, although Rayo had the best chance, Oscar Trejo and then Alvaro both thwarted by Courtois after Madrid failed to clear.

The miss proved costly because moments later, Benzema was celebrating in the corner.

He started the move, threading Vinicius through in the box before continuing his run. Vinicius could have shot but tapped it to his left, giving Benzema an open net.