For its part, FC Barcelona conceded a draw (3-3) in Galicia against Celta Vigo, after leading 3-0 at the break, and drags its penalty to 9th place 10 points behind Real.

The joy of Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas after equalizing (3-3) at home against Barcelona in added time, during the 13th day of LaLiga, November 6, 2021 at Balaidos Stadium MIGUEL RIOPA AFP

With eight wins on the clock, against three draws and one defeat, the Madrid formation is two points ahead of Real Sociedad, leader before the day, and Sevilla FC by three.

These last two teams move respectively to Osasuna (7th, 19 pts) and to the neighbor of Betis (5th, 21 pts) in a derby of the city which promises to be hot, Sunday (9:00 p.m.) at the end of the day.

Atlético Madrid, 4th with 22 points, will play in Valencia (11th).

In their den at the Santiago-Bernabeu, Real opened the scoring with their German midfielder Toni Kroos, with a recovery in the top corner of a center behind Marco Asensio (14th).

And ten for Benzema

Carlo Ancelotti's team doubled the bet by the inevitable Karim Benzema, who picked up with his foot at the far post a cross from David Alaba (38 ').

The French international is alone on Saturday night at the top of the La Liga scorers' standings with 10 goals.

The French striker of Real Madrid, Karim Benzema, scores the second goal against Rayo Vallecano, during the 13th day of LaLiga, on November 6, 2021 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU AFP

Benzema came close to scoring the brace in the 61st minute, at the conclusion of a marvel of collective action, a one-touch display of play, but the curling strike of the Madrid captain grazed the opposite window of the goal guarded by the Macedonian Stole Dimitrievski.

Far from resigning himself, the Rayo managed to reduce the score by Radamel Falcao, who came into play a few minutes earlier, whose head slightly deflected by Alba on a center of Alvaro Garcia deceived Thibaut Courtois (77th).

A minute earlier already, the Portuguese Bebé had almost scored after a personal feat, punctuated by a low shot repelled by the left post of Courtois' goal.

And the last minutes of the meeting were trying for Real, especially on a disaster release from Kroos on his line in added time ...

Le Rayo remains 6th (13 pts) seven lengths behind Real.

A double-faced Barça in Vigo

In the afternoon, all eyes were on FC Barcelona, ​​traveling to the Celta Vigo field while awaiting the arrival of his new coach, Xavi Hernandez.

But the match turned in the wrong direction for the Catalan team, which led 3-0 at the break before collapsing to concede a messy draw (3-3).

A misfortune never comes alone, Barça lost its prodigies Nico and Ansu Fati to injury.

Barcelona midfielder Ansu Fati leaves the field after injuring Celta Vigo in their LaLiga match on November 6, 2021 at Balaidos Stadium MIGUEL RIOPA AFP

The happiness lasted 45 minutes: driven by the enthusiasm generated by the arrival of Xavi Hernandez at midday in Barcelona, ​​the Catalan players offered their best first period of the season, correcting Celta Vigo at home 3-0 after only half an hour of play ... then collapsed in the second period, until the dreaded equalizer of the inexhaustible Iago Aspas at the end of added time (90th + 6).

The joy of Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas (c), congratulated by his teammates, after equalizing (3-3) at home against Barcelona in added time, on LaLiga matchday 13, November 6, 2021 at Balaidos Stadium MIGUEL RIOPA AFP

A goal that had the effect of a bomb for the Catalans: most of the players collapsed on the lawn, their hands raised to their faces.

Images that recalled the enormous and multiple disappointments of Barça over the past two years, in the Champions League as in La Liga.

© 2021 AFP