Real Madrid beaten by struggling Rayo

Madrid: Real Madrid's response to Barcelona winning the title was to lose to 19th-placed Rayo Vallecano and fall 18 points behind La Liga's newly-crowned champions.

A deserved 1-0 defeat at Vallecas on Sunday means Zinedine Zidane's second term now shows four wins from eight games and a worrying lack of improvement since he returned as Madrid's coach.

Adri Embarba's penalty, given after consultation with VAR, was enough for Rayo, who move to within six points of survival, with three games left to play.

For Madrid, the gap widens between them and Barcelona, whose players had been dancing on the pitch at Camp Nou the night before and posing for photos with their children after wrapping up a fourth La Liga title in five years.

Zidane took over knowing Madrid's challenge was all-but extinguished but the difference on Barca then was 12 points while catching Atletico Madrid still seemed achievable.

Atletico are now nine points ahead and the way Madrid are closing out this season will surely be a cause for concern.

Not since March 31 has anyone except Karim Benzema, out with a hamstring injury, scored for them in La Liga and they created precious few chances against a Rayo side that had conceded 62 goals this term. No side in the division has shipped more.

Zidane said last week that the league would be the club's first priority from August but, even with new signings and fresh motivation, it could prove difficult to flick the switch. Madrid's winning habit has long-been lost.

Rayo's last victory over Real at Vallecas was in 1997, by the same scoreline, and this time they were without their top scorer too, Raul de Tomas, who is on loan from Madrid and ineligible to face his parent club.