LaLiga Results: Real Madrid Thrash Rayo Vallecano 4-1 as Espanyol and Racing Santander Win

Real Madrid bounced back from their surprise defeat to Real Betis in style, thrashing Rayo Vallecano 4-1 to move level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

Real Madrid thrashed Rayo Vallecano 4-1 at the Bernabeu, bouncing back strongly from their surprise defeat to Real Betis a week earlier.

Madrid raced into a three-goal lead inside 35 minutes. Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring from the penalty spot, then turned provider three minutes later, setting up Alvaro Carreras to make it 2-0. Jude Bellingham added a third before halftime after finishing off a slick team move. Rayo pulled one back early in the second half through Sergio Camello, but Mbappe had the last word deep into stoppage time, slotting home his second of the night to make it four wins from five league games this season for Real Madrid.

Elsewhere, Espanyol beat Osasuna 2-0 away, with Roberto Fernández scoring twice inside the first 20 minutes. And Athletic Club and Elche drew 1-1, with Iñaki Williams equalizing late after Elche had gone ahead from the penalty spot in the second half.

Real Racing Club also beat Deportivo Alavés 2-1 at El Sardinero, with Yassir Zabiri scoring both home goals. Alavés actually created more chances and had more shots, and led early through Ville Koski, but Zabiri leveled things before halftime and put Racing ahead early in the second half. Alavés pushed hard for an equalizer and even had a numerical advantage late on after a Racing red card, but couldn't find a way through, and Racing held on for the win.