Mbappe penalty at the death powers Real Madrid past Rayo Vallecano

Kylian Mbappe came through for Real Madrid again, converting a penalty kick 10 minutes into second-half stoppage time to salvage a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano and move Madrid back within a point of Spanish league leader Barcelona.

Vinicius Junior also scored for Madrid on Sunday after again being jeered by fans early on at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Jude Bellingham, also booed when the lineup was announced, had to be replaced 10 minutes into the match because of a left hamstring injury.

Madrid was coming off a 4-2 loss at Benfica that dropped the team out of the eight automatic spots for the round of 16 of the Champions League. It will face Benfica again in the playoffs.

"We came from a tough defeat, one that nobody ever wants, in the Champions, a competition many of us aspire to win," Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde said.

"We wanted to change that image, today we had the first opportunity, and I think we played a great game."  It was a thriller at the Bernabeu on Sunday, with Mbappe giving Madrid the victory by coolly converting the last-gasp penalty for his eighth goal in five matches.

The result allowed Alvaro Arbeloa's side to keep pace with Barcelona, which won 3-1 at Elche on Saturday.

"It was a victory in which the players put a lot of energy, their soul," said Arbeloa, who took over after replacing Xabi Alonso last month. "We needed the help of the fans and without their push we would not have achieved it."  The boos toward Vinicius were subdued after he scored a superb goal in the 15th minute. The Brazil international cleared a couple of defenders before curling a right-footed shot into the top corner.

Rayo, which played a man down from the 80th after Pathe Ciss was sent off with a straight red card for a hard foul, equalized through Jorge De Frutos in the 49th.

Vallecano, which threatened at times at the Bernabeu, also saw Pep Chavarria shown a second yellow in the final minutes of added time.

Rayo, which has lost four straight in all competitions, had lost only one of its last five games against Madrid in the league. It dropped to 17th place, just outside the relegation zone.

Bellingham injured  Bellingham was on his own when he seemed to pick up the injury. He immediately grabbed the back of his leg with his left hand before going to the ground. He received medical assistance and seemed emotional as he left the field under his own power.

Madrid did not provide a timetable for Bellingham's recovery but Spanish media said he is not likely to recover in time to face Benfica in the Champions League playoffs.

The England international was replaced by Brahim Diaz, who five minutes later set up the Vinicius goal that made it 1-0 for Madrid. Diaz also prompted the foul of the penalty converted by Mbappe.

Mbappe had missed an open net in the 68th, hitting the crossbar after getting past the goalkeeper.

With the game tied 1-1 in the 64th, Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois came up with a crucial save on a one-on-one following a Rayo breakaway.

Basque Country derby  Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta scored an 88th-minute equalizer as Athletic Bilbao salvaged a 1-1 draw at home against Basque Country rival Real Sociedad.

The visitors had taken the lead with Goncalo Guedes' goal in the 37th. Sociedad played with 10 men from the 83rd after Brais Mendez was sent off with a straight red card.

Athletic, winless in six league games, moved to 11th. Eighth-place Sociedad was trying to win its fourth consecutive league match.

Other results  Pablo Fornals scored an 88th-minute winner to give fifth-place Real Betis a 2-1 win over 15th-place Valencia, which had won three in a row in all competitions. Chimy Avila also scored for the hosts, three minutes after Luis Rioja had given Valencia the lead.

Seventh-place Celta Vigo drew 0-0 at 16th-place Getafe, which hasn't won in nine consecutive matches across all tournaments. Celta stayed winless in three straight games.