The lights didn't go out at Vallecas for a second time and they didn't go out on Real Madrid's title hopes as goals from Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, from the penalty spot, gave Los Blancos a much-needed 2-0 win in the Spanish capital on Monday night.

Sunday night's sabotage drama didn't carry on into Monday, luckily, as electricians managed to fix the wires that were cut by "football terrorists", as Rayo president Raúl Martín Presa told the gathered press before the match. The game was due to be played on Sunday night but the lack of floodlights from one section of the stadium, believed to be caused by Rayo fans protesting about ticket prices, forced it to be moved back 24 hours.

The protests continued inside Rayo's tight Vallecas stadium as the game finally got underway, with chants of "Presa go home!" heard throughout. Rayo had charged season ticket holders and extra 25 euros to attend the visit of the champions, and their near-neighbours. A not-so-nice touch for the fans, the heartbeat of football, in the current Spanish financial climate, and Los Vallecanos were determined to be heard.

Rayo's problems aside, Madrid got the job done. Moving the game back 24 hours could have been tricky for Los Merengues, especially with Mourinho's team being announced last night before the game was postponed. Of course, it could have been tricky for Rayo, too, but Paco Jémez's men gave Los Blancos a rocky ride, and they had 24 hours to assess Mourinho's 'confirmed' line-up.

Madrid have a good record at Vallecas, the best in La Liga currently with nine wins from their 13 visits and wins in each of their last five clashes there. Rayo have made a good start to the season, however, and showcased their battling qualities by coming from 4-0 down against Atletico before eventually just missing out in a 4-3 defeat. They were above Jose Mourinho's men going into the match - quite a rarity. Madrid and Mourinho also knew all too well the difficulties Rayo could cause them going into the game after Ronaldo's piece of individual brilliance was all that separated the sides last season.

So it's a relief to get the job done. It's a relief not to fall further behind Barcelona, a side who've started with a perfect record from their opening five league matches. It's a relief for Madrid to get their first away win of the season and it's a relief to secure back-to-back victories that could hopefully kick-start the campaign.

Madrid were still not at their best. They still looked unconvincing in defending set-pieces. They still looked unconvincing in finishing teams off, something they did so well, and in record-breaking fashion last season. But they're getting there. Against Rayo, Madrid showed that bit of extra urgency in their play, a bit that has been lacking in all of their La Liga matches previously this term. For a team that was so brilliant last season to start this campaign so sluggishly, confidence was always going to be an issue. With each win that confidence will come back.

That extra urgency was aided by the players Mourinho picked to start. Michael Essien, deemed someone who would be nothing more than a squad player this season, slotted in seamlessly and looked good playing alongside Xabi Alonso but slightly more advanced than Sami Khedira would. The best is yet to come from Luka Modric but he produced some neat touches and passages of play that bode well for his future at the Bernabeu. He had a great chance to get his first Madrid goal, too. Karim Benzema has been playing second fiddle for the start of this season but he's now got two important goals in as many games and could shift him back ahead of Gonzalo Higuain in the pecking order, for now. Sergio Ramos returned and, an early error aside, impressed.

Madrid's opener came in typical fashion. A counter-attack, started by Ronaldo, and resulting in Angel di Maria providing a pin-point cross to leave Benzema with a simple tap-in. That assist now puts the Argentina as the leading assist man in La Liga with four so far this season. He was my tip for most assists in La Liga this season and he's living up to that billing despite him, and Madrid, not hitting top form yet. The penalty was a penalty. The defender's hand was out in an unnatural position and Ronaldo's ball was seemingly heading straight for the boot of substitute Mesut Ozil. Three points in the bag.

There's still room for improvement, however. While solid in general play, Madrid still looked susceptible to set-pieces and could have come undone against better opposition - no disrespect meant to Rayo. Benzema might have got the all important opener, but Xabi Alonso's clearance off the line in the first half was almost as crucial. It all came from more comical defending at the back, with the hosts having three good chances on goal before Madrid cleared the danger. There were numerous other instances where a Rayo player won the ball ahead of his Madrid marker from set pieces. It's a problem that's been obvious from their first match of the season against Valencia and it's yet to be properly addressed.

A 2-0 away win can't be grumbled at, especially given Madrid's start to the season. Now it's time to kick-on. Deportivo visit the Bernabeu next weekend and, with a trip to Barcelona on the cards after that, Los Blancos need to continue their improvements, especially defensively, against Depor and really get a grip of their season.

Follow me on Twitter @nicholasrigg

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Email