Real Madrid keep streak alive as Valencia reduced to ten men
At the Estádio Mestalla on Sábado, Real Madrid arrived in Valencia and, despite the hostile atmosphere, ran out 3‑0 winners, marking their eighth consecutive victory across all competitions. The win lifted them to 30 points, equalising Barcelona's tally and reinforcing their grip on the La Liga summit.
Dominant display at Mestalla
Real Madrid visited Valencia at Estádio Mestalla and secured a 3‑0 victory. Federico Valverde opened the scoring in the Primeiro tempo and Arda Güler doubled the lead before Kylian Mbappé completed the rout in the final stage. Jude Bellingham evaded the marking of Valencia defender Pepelu throughout the match. The hosts dominated possession at 78 percent, registered six shots to Real's two and completed three times as many touches, leaving them 2‑0 up at the break.
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In the second half Arda Güler supplied an inch‑perfect pass to Mbappé, who dribbled past goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski to make it 3‑0. Valencia's captain José Gayà was shown a straight red card for a harsh challenge on Mbappé after the third goal, reducing the visitors to ten men. Thibaut Courtois denied Aaron Mayol and Danjuma with reflex saves, keeping the scoreline intact.
Implications for the title race
The win took Real Madrid to 30 points, level with Barcelona, while Valencia remain 19th. Barcelona travel to face Atlético Madrid on Sunday, who sit on 28 points, in a direct clash that could reshape the top of the table. A Barcelona win or draw preserves their solitary lead, whereas an Atlético victory would propel them to first place and bring Simeone within one win of becoming the most successful coach in Spanish league history. It also marks Real Madrid’s eighth successive win across all competitions, a feat not achieved since September 2022.
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Before kick‑off both teams honoured the late Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel by wearing white shirts, placing a bouquet on the centre spot and observing a minute’s silence. Valencia manager Javier Aguirre, aware of Real’s firepower, added a fifth defender in the Dutch 26‑year‑old Justin de Haas, who earned his second start in Spain. After the break Aguirre sacrificed a defender for a midfielder, costing De Haas a place on the pitch, while cameras lingered on Dutch full‑back Denzel Dumfries following Valverde’s opening goal.