Arda Guler’s introduction proved the turning point as Real Madrid regained control after a shaky start to the second half and defeated Rayo Vallecano 4-1 on Saturday to pull level with Barcelona at the top of LaLiga.
Jose Mourinho’s side looked in complete command after taking a 3-0 lead into half-time, but Rayo came out with renewed purpose after the break. The visitors launched a series of attacks in the opening 10 minutes, testing Thibaut Courtois several times as Sergio Camello pulled one back in the 51st minute.
Rayo began dominating possession and creating most of the chances, leaving Real looking increasingly unsettled. Mourinho responded by bringing on Aurelien Tchouameni for Bernardo Silva in the 69th minute, with Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga, who had replaced Federico Valverde at half-time, forming a more defensive double pivot.
But the game changed when Guler replaced Yan Diomande three minutes later.
The Turkish midfielder immediately demanded the ball, linking the defence with the attack and helping Real regain their rhythm. His influence was reflected in his numbers: despite playing just over 20 minutes, Guler completed 16 of 18 passes, created five chances -- including two big chances -- and registered one shot on target.
He also provided the assist for Kylian Mbappe’s second of the night in stoppage time, sealing a convincing victory that had looked far less certain after the break.
“Arda is very good, he’s got a lot of quality, he influences the team’s play in a good way and today he made a difference in terms of the stability of the game,” Mourinho told Real Madrid TV.
The victory saw Real recover from their previous LaLiga defeat by Real Betis, with Mbappe scoring twice and Jude Bellingham and Alvaro Carreras also finding the net.
“We killed the game in the first half -- that’s not easy, working like we did after the Champions League game, not just physically, but mentally,” Mourinho said of Real’s dominant opening 45 minutes.
But it was Guler’s arrival that helped ensure Rayo’s second-half resurgence did not turn into a damaging collapse.
