After the success against FC Barcelona (2-1), and a week marked by the Vinícius Jr controversy, Real Madrid (1st) returned to the Santiago Bernabéu, this Saturday, against Valencia (18th). For this meeting on the 11th day of La Liga, Xabi Alonso had lined up a very offensive formation, with Bellingham and Güler to surround Tchouaméni as well as Mastantuono and Vinicius alongside Mbappé. On the Valencian side, José Gaya, Baptiste Santamaria and Arnaut Danjuma were lined up in Carlos Corberan’s 4-4-2.
real Madrid
4
19′ (sp), 31′
K. Mbappé
44′
J.Bellingham
82′
Alvaro Carreras
Valence
0
finished
Real quickly got their foot on the ball. After attempts by Valverde (6th), Vinícius Jr (10th) and Bellingham (14th), the Merengues found the fault from a penalty after a handball from César Tárrega in the area. Kylian Mbappé did not hesitate to transform it and score his 12th goal in the championship (19th, 1-0). A little over ten minutes later, the insatiable Mbappé doubled the lead for Real, after a cross from Arda Güler and a nice recovery from the left (31st, 2-0). Already author of 14 goals in 18 matches this season, the captain of Blues could have claimed his first hat-trick in the league, after a new penalty awarded to Real after a foul on Carreras. But number 10 left this second penalty to Vinícius… who saw his attempt stopped by Agirrezabala (43rd).
Real unfolds before going to Liverpool
A few moments later, Bellingham scored Madrid’s third goal (44th) to seal the victory even before half-time. In the second half, Real managed itself while Valencia tried to revolt. In vain. In the 82nd minute, Álvaro Carreras scored the fourth goal of the evening with a magnificent strike from the left which lodged in the left corner of Agirrezabala. Enough to complete a perfect evening for Real and Xabi Alonso, who was able to rotate his team and who even brought in Endrick, he who had not played a single minute this season.
While waiting for Barça-Elche this Sunday, Real Madrid occupies the lead in La Liga with seven points ahead of Villarreal. The Madrilenians are now focused on the Champions League and the trip to Anfield to face Liverpool. As for Valencia, it is a sixth defeat in 11 days. The Valencians are 18th and relegated.
