For BD Cricket Live followers tracking La Liga, Real Madrid’s recent form has taken an unexpected dip. In the 12th round of the league, the Spanish giants faced Rayo Vallecano away from home. After securing ten wins and just one loss in their first eleven matches, Madrid sat comfortably at the top of the table, having already beaten Barcelona to create breathing space in the title race. However, a midweek Champions League defeat to Liverpool broke their winning streak and perhaps took a toll on the squad’s morale.

Returning to league action, Real Madrid were widely expected to breeze past Rayo, a side far weaker on paper. Yet things didn’t go as planned. Despite their dominance, Los Blancos failed to find the net and were forced to settle for a frustrating 0–0 draw. In this BD Cricket Live update, fans saw Carlo Ancelotti’s men—lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation—field an attacking lineup led by Kylian Mbappé, supported by Vinícius, Bellingham, and Díaz. The midfield duo of Camavinga and Güler provided balance, while Carvajal, Heisen, Raúl Asensio, and Valverde held the backline, with Courtois guarding the goal. The total market value of Madrid’s starting eleven stood at a staggering €960 million compared to Rayo’s modest €57 million—a huge gap that never translated into dominance on the pitch.

Perhaps fatigue from the European schedule played its part. Real’s first-half performance lacked their usual sharpness. Although they managed several promising attacks, finishing remained elusive. Güler, Vinícius, and Asensio all had chances, but none found the net. Surprisingly, Mbappé didn’t take a single shot in the first half—an almost unheard-of statistic for a player of his caliber. Five yellow cards were issued before halftime, three to Rayo and two to Madrid, yet the score remained goalless.

The second half brought more urgency but no breakthrough. Güler’s long-range strike missed narrowly, Mbappé’s shot lacked precision, and Valverde’s powerful effort was denied by the Rayo keeper. Even with Alonso making four substitutions to spark the attack, the changes produced little impact. Madrid’s 21 total attempts yielded just five shots on target, a poor return for a team of such quality. It was the first time this season they drew in La Liga, and coming right after their 0–1 Champions League loss, it marked their first back-to-back goalless games since May 2023.

For BD Cricket Live readers following European football trends, this kind of drought from Madrid’s “billion-euro trio” is rare. Mbappé managed only one off-target shot; Vinícius recorded three attempts with one on target; Bellingham tried twice but couldn’t convert either. Despite controlling 54% of possession, Real Madrid looked short of ideas. For Alonso, this two-match dry spell might not be a full-blown crisis yet, but it’s a clear wake-up call that even football’s richest lineups can hit a rough patch—proof that no amount of talent guarantees goals when form dips.