Real Madrid Defeats Valencia to Draw Level With Barcelona in La Liga
Real Madrid pulled provisionally level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona following a 3-0 victory against 10-man Valencia at the Mestalla stadium. Federico Valverde and Arda Guler scored first-half goals before Kylian Mbappe added a third after halftime, putting heavy pressure on Barca.
Los Blancos played without winger Vinicius Junior, who served the final game of a four-match ban. Madrid have thrived during his absence, building on their October 25 Clasico victory at the Camp Nou. In the ninth minute, players and fans paused the match to pay tribute to Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, who died on Tuesday.
Valencia threatened early when Aaron Mayol picked Aurelien Tchouameni’s pocket in a dangerous area, prompting a sharp save from Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Guido Rodriguez also had a goal disallowed for offside before Mourinho’s squad took full control of the fixture. Valverde opened the scoring by drilling a shot from outside the area after Mbappe’s free-kick rebounded off the Valencia defensive wall. Guler quickly doubled the lead when Jude Bellingham’s cross deflected into his path.
Kylian Mbappe Extends Scoring Streak as Valencia Sees Red
Mbappe sealed the result in the second half by collecting a pass from Guler, rounding goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski, and squeezing home his 13th league goal of the campaign. The strike marked Mbappe’s 17th goal in 16 appearances across all competitions, extending his scoring run to seven consecutive matches for Madrid.
Valencia’s frustrations mounted late in the match when Jose Gaya was dismissed with around 10 minutes remaining for a late sliding foul on Mbappe.
Elsewhere in La Liga, new Espanyol coach Eder Sarabia’s side were held to a goalless home draw by Deportivo La Coruna. Osasuna secured a late 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao, while Racing Santander came from behind to defeat Malaga 2-1. Barcelona visits third-placed Atletico Madrid on Sunday, aiming to move back clear of the chasing pack.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Match
Why was Vinicius Junior absent from the Real Madrid lineup?
Vinicius Junior missed the fixture while serving the final match of a four-match suspension.
When did Real Madrid last defeat Barcelona?
Madrid defeated Barcelona at the Camp Nou during a Clasico match on October 25.
Where does Valencia currently rank in the La Liga standings?
Valencia were 10-man following Jose Gaya’s late dismissal in the 3-0 defeat.
Worth a look