Real Madrid v Valencia
Mbappé scores 2, Vini misses pen in Madrid rout of Valencia
Kylian Mbappé scored twice and Jude Bellingham scored for the third successive game as LaLiga leaders Real Madrid cruised to a 4-0 victory over Valencia.
Madrid, who are now seven points clear of second-placed Villarreal and eight better off than champions Barcelona ahead of their home clash with Elche, led 2-0 through Mbappé's double when Bellingham struck just before half-time.
The hosts, who had earlier seen a Vinícius Júnior penalty -- one of two they were awarded during the opening 45 minutes -- saved by Julen Agirrezabala, had secured the points by the break and Álvaro Carreras added a fourth late on as they managed the remainder of the game ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League trip to Liverpool.
They were first to threaten when, after Mbappé had forced a sixth-minute corner from Arda Guler's deft pass, Federico Valverde fired just wide when the set-piece was only half-cleared.
Valencia had arrived ready to defend deep and in numbers and attempt to hit Madrid on the counter, but they found themselves under pressure with keeper Agirrezabala having to save a 13th-minute Bellingham shot.
However, the respite proved temporary with the hosts taking the lead from the penalty spot just two minutes later after Mbappé and Bellingham had both gone down in the box as they attempted to meet a corner, although the subsequent VAR check concentrated on a potential handball.
Referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer ultimately pointed to the spot and Mbappé stepped up to send Agirrezabala the wrong way to open the scoring with 19 minutes gone.
The France international doubled his tally with 14 minutes of the first half remaining when he arrived on cue to turn the industrious Guler's cross past the helpless keeper.
Carlos Corberan's men retreated ever deeper as the pressure mounted and their woes might have increased with two minutes of the first half remaining when Thierry Correia tripped Carreras inside the box, but Vinícius saw his penalty saved by Agirrezabala.
However, the third goal arrived when Bellingham cut inside and curled a 44th-minute shot expertly round the keeper.
Xabi Alonso sent on Dani Ceballos and Eduardo Camavinga for Guler and Aurélien Tchouaméni at the break, but the changes did little to quell his side's attacking intent, although the visitors proved more resilient in the early stages of the second half.
Despite dominating possession, Madrid were struggling to create openings and they were almost caught out when keeper Thibaut Courtois had to palm away Andre Almeida's strike after a rare Valencia attack.
Carreras made it 4-0 with an 82nd-minute piledriver after substitute Rodrygo's effort had been blocked, but substitute Javi Guerra was denied a consolation strike for the visitors by the crossbar.
Information from PA was used in this report.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Mateo Busquets Ferrer
Spanish LALIGA Standings
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 11 | 10 | 0 | 1 | +16 | 30 |
| Villarreal | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | +12 | 23 |
| Barcelona | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | +13 | 22 |
| Atlético Madrid | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | +11 | 22 |
| Espanyol | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | +3 | 18 |
| Getafe | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | -1 | 17 |
| Real Betis | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | +3 | 16 |
| Elche | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | +1 | 14 |
| Rayo Vallecano | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | -2 | 14 |
| Athletic Club | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | -2 | 14 |
| Sevilla | 11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | -2 | 13 |
| Alavés | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 12 |
| Real Sociedad | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | -3 | 12 |
| Celta Vigo | 10 | 1 | 7 | 2 | -2 | 10 |
| Osasuna | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | -3 | 10 |
| Levante | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -4 | 9 |
| Mallorca | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -4 | 9 |
| Valencia | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -10 | 9 |
| Real Oviedo | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | -12 | 7 |
| Girona | 11 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -14 | 7 |

