Real Madrid beats Rayo with 10 men

BARCELONA, Spain (AP)

LA LIGA RESULTS

• Sevilla 3, Deportivo La Coruna 1
• Getafe 3, Celta de Vigo 1
• Malaga, Athletic Bilbao
• Granada 1, Barcelona 2
• Osasuna 1, Real Zaragoza 0
• Real Socidead 1, Levante 1
• Valencia 2, Mallorca 0
• Valladolid 0, Atletico Madrid 3
• Espanyol 1, Real Betis 0
• Real Madrid 2, Rayo Vallecano 0
• Scores | Standings | Teams

Real Madrid had little trouble hanging on to beat crosstown rival Rayo Vallecano 2-0 despite Sergio Ramos' early sending off, giving coach Jose Mourinho a victory in his 100th Spanish league game on Sunday.

Young striker Alvaro Morata put Madrid ahead in just the third minute. Ramos doubled the advantage with a header in the 12th, but the Spain defender then left the hosts with 10 men in the 18th after picking up two bookings in a two-minute span.

Madrid's win kept it in third place, four points behind Atletico Madrid after it won 3-0 at Valladolid. Barcelona leads Atletico by 12 points at the top of the table with the league almost two-thirds through.

In his third season with Madrid, Mourinho has a league record of 76 victories, 13 draws and 11 losses.

Mourinho marked his milestone by making another change to his starting lineup by leaving France striker Karim Benzema on the bench in favor of the 20-year-old Morata.

''We started the match well with two goals in the opening minutes, but then it's always tough to play a man down,'' Morata said. ''I'm playing with some of the best players in the world and learning little by little. I couldn't ask for anything else.''

Rayo had earned the label of this season's revelation by not only defying predictions that it would suffer to stay up, but rising into contention for a top-six finish and a European competition berth with its attack-oriented style of play.

However, its fearless approach cost it dearly against Madrid, which has struggled against defensive teams this season while ripping apart sides that dare send too many men forward with its potent counterattack.

Morata grabbed Madrid the lead at the Santiago Bernabeu when he arrived unmarked behind a wave of teammates to drive home a no-look backpass from Mesut Oezil after Kaka had played the Germany midfielder wide on the right flank.

After Rayo forward Alejandro ''Chori'' Dominguez grazed the upright with a shot, Ramos made it 2-0 after he had earned a free kick just outside the box. He then muscled in front of his marker and turned Oezil's service into the net with a powerfully taken header.

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Madrid looked ready to rout Rayo until Ramos saw his two quick yellow cards, the first for fouling Leo Baptistao and the second for blocking a pass with his arm.

''It isn't normal that I'm sent off in two minutes,'' said Ramos. ''I am not one to make harsh tackles with bad intentions. I'm sorry I left my teammates at a disadvantage.''

Madrid's top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, who netted the equalizer against Manchester United in the Champions League on Wednesday, hit the side netting in the 36th in his best chance.

Rayo got a much-needed respite with Ramos' dismissal and managed to take charge of the ball, but it could come no closer to scoring than Roberto Trashorras' try inside the box that he sailed over the bar just before halftime.