Real Madrid 10 - 2 Rayo Vallecano: Immediate Reaction

Real Madrid have smashed Rayo Vallecano with a lob-sided scoreline that was not only incredibly eventful, but also somehow trite and thoroughly flattering.

Here's three quick notes:

1. Rayo Vallecano caused Real Madrid all kinds of problems in the opening 20 minutes of the match with their gung-ho offense. Rayo has always been a threatening team - the kind that goes into Camp Nou and plays a possession-based scheme regardless of where they are in the standings. They attack, and have a 'we'll score more than you' attitude. Rayo thoroughly deserved to be leading 2-1 in the first half before Tito's red card changed everything. Unfortunately for everyone, the referee really ruined the match with his decision to send off Baena. It was a horrible decision.
   
   
2. Paco Jemez has to be upset with Tito, who committed an awful tackle on Kroos which saw him sent off when Rayo had the game under control and looked like they had a good chance to come away with three points from this game. Tito gave Real Madrid an advantage they didn't deserve. 
   
   
3. Great game for Gareth Bale. Clearly the player that thrives the most in space is the Welshman, and he really stepped up and took advantage of the situation. To be fair to him, he looked threatening even before Rayo were reduced to 9 men. Bale now leads the league in assists, which is quite remarkable when you factor in he's only played 10 games, and would probably have more if Ronaldo and Benzema were more efficient this season.