Real Madrid played out a forgettable 0-0 draw at Rayo Vallecano to open the door for Barcelona to chip away at their lead at the top of LaLiga.
Match Report
Los Blancos lacked a cutting edge at Estadio de Vallecas and may consider themselves fortunate to escape Sunday's contest with a point after Alvaro Garcia missed a second-half sitter.
With Barca visiting Celta Vigo later on Sunday, Madrid's six-point gap to the Blaugrana – who currently sit third behind Villarreal – could be cut to just three.
Andre Ratiu fired straight at Thibaut Courtois after a marauding run down the right, while Vinicius Junior was denied by a good parry from Augusto Batalla at the other end in the only chances of a drab first half.
In the second, Jorge De Frutos powered an effort into the side-netting after good work down the left by Pacha Espino, and Arda Guler dipped a shot just wide of the left post for Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe was next to go close for the visitors, hovering on the left of the area and flashing one just wide of the far post, but they were let off the hook when Garcia lofted over the top from six yards in a great chance for Vallecano.
Federico Valverde tested Batalla, and Madrid pushed hard in the closing stages, but they could not find a way through a stubborn Vallecano defence.
Data Debrief: History for Inigo Perez as shot-shy Mbappe sees streak ended
Inigo Perez earned himself a slice of history by becoming the first coach in Vallecano history to avoid defeat in three different matches against Los Blancos in LaLiga.
Madrid have now racked up 21 or more shots in five straight league encounters. They last had as many as four in a row back in the 2003-04 season.
A draw here means they have won just once in their last six visits to Vallecano (D3 L2), having won each of the previous nine such encounters in LaLiga.
Mbappe was looking to score in a ninth straight LaLiga game, but he managed just one shot in the entire contest and just three touches in the opposition area.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
2' Arda Güler's shot is saved
15' Yellow Card! Andrei Rațiu booked
17' Highlight from Vallecano vs Real Madrid
20' What a save Courtois!
22' Viní is denied from close range
23' Asencio’s header goes wide… back to back big chances for Real Madrid
27' Injured! Pedro Diaz is taken off
33' Yellow Card! Álvaro García booked
46' Militão ON, Huijsen OFF
47' Arda goes down in the box. No penalty
51' Arda Güler's shot so so close
52' Arda CLOSE… just wide from distance
60' Mbappe comes close… wide
64' Mbappé goes down in the box. Ref says nothing
69' Fede's shot is saved
71' Ceballos is replacing Brahim
79' Camavinga OFF, Rodrygo ON
82' Fede Valverde has asked to be taken off; he is injured. Trent is coming on
Line-ups
Vallecano XI: Lejeune, Unai López, Álvaro García, Augusto Batalla, Isi Palazón, Pedro Díaz, Jorge de Frutos, Pathé Ciss, Andrei Rațiu, Pep Chavarría, Nobel Mendy
Subs: Óscar Trejo, Balliu, Gumbau, Alfonso Espino, Óscar Valentín, Dani Cárdenas, Sergio Camello, Alemão, Fran Pérez, Jozhua Vertrouwd, Samu Becerra, Adrián Molina Colorado
Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Mbappe, Valverde, Brahim, Vinicius, Camavinga, Bellingham, Güler, Álvaro Carreras, Raúl Asencio, Dean Huijsen
Subs: Alaba, F Mendy, Ceballos, Alexander-Arnold, Militao, Lunin, Fran García, Rodrygo, Gonzalo García, Endrick, Sergio Mestre