<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Real Madrid lost their first La Liga game of the season, going down 3-2 in a battle at city-rivals Rayo Vallecano on Monday to leave Barcelona two points clear at the top.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Rayo took an early lead in a see-saw game before Real rallied to 2-1 ahead. Rayo equalised before half-time before sealing a famous win with a twice-taken penalty from Oscar Trejo in the 67th minute.</div><div><br></div><div>After 13 matches, Barcelona are top on 34 points to Real Madrid's 32.</div><div><br></div><div>Playing without injured Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, Real Madrid faced a tough opponent in a sold-out stadium in the working class suburb of Vallecas.</div><div><br></div><div>Santiago Comesana put the home side ahead to raucous scenes after just five minutes before two goals in the space of four minutes turned the match Madrid's way.</div><div><br></div><div>First Luca Modric levelled from the penalty spot in the 37th minute before Eder Militao fired Carlo Ancelotti's previously unbeaten side into the lead.</div><div><br></div><div>It was not to last, however, as Rayo were level at the break with Alvaro Garcia getting the better of a goalmouth scramble and snapping a shot through a sea of legs.</div><div><br></div><div>In a bad tempered and hotly-disputed game Real's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved a penalty from Trejo on 67 minutes but was adjudged to have moved early.</div><div><br></div><div>Trejo showed no nerves converting the retaken spot-kick.</div><div>"We lost it in the individual duels, and we missed chances we would normally convert," Ancelotti said.</div><div><br></div><div>Named in Brazil's World Cup squad Rodrygo looked horrified when he fired over the bar from close range in the 90th minute.</div><div><br></div><div>Real's other Brazilian striker Vinicius also fell flat but the Italian coach said the players hadn't been distracted by the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.</div><div><br></div><div>"That's the way it goes sometimes."</div><div><br></div><div>"It was hard for Vinicius, but it was hard for all the team tonight."</div><div><br></div><div>"I'm upset by this defeat, not with the players, we have done better than ever in this first part of the season," said Ancelotti.</div><div><br></div><div>Barcelona beat Almeria 2-0 with goals from Ousmane Dembele and Frenkie de Jong to move top of La Liga on Saturday on an emotional night as Gerard Pique retired.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier Monday, Real were draw against Liverpool in the Champions League for a double header in February and March. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>