Real Madrid had Vinicius Junior sent off in a chaotic 2-1 victory over Valencia on Friday night, with Jude Bellingham, who had earlier missed a penalty, coming up with the winner in the 95th minute of the contest at Mestalla.
The result has moved Los Blancos to the top of the La Liga table, two points ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid, while they are now five points clear of third-placed Barcelona.
Valencia made the breakthrough in the 27th minute of the match, and it was the simplest of finishes for Hugo Duro, who converted into an empty net after Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had kept out an effort from Javi Guerra.
Los Che deserved their half-time advantage, with the hosts having five shots on target during a strong first period, with Courtois undoubtedly the busier of the two goalkeepers in the opening 45 minutes.
Bellingham missed the chance to level the scores from the penalty spot early in the second period, with his effort coming off the post, before Kylian Mbappe had a goal disallowed for offside just before the hour.
Real Madrid were then reduced to 10 men in the 80th minute, with Vinicius given his marching orders for a push on Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.
However, Carlo Ancelotti's side managed to make it 1-1 soon after when Luka Modric calmly finished into the back of the net, before Bellingham scored a last-gasp winner against a Valencia outfit that remain down in 19th spot in the table.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
This was some match.
Quite how Valencia lost it late on is difficult to explain, as they had a 1-0 lead heading into the latter stages and also boasted a man advantage due to Vinicius picking up a red card following an altercation with the home side's goalkeeper.
It appeared that Ancelotti's side would be suffering a damaging defeat, but they refused to be beaten, with Modric's calm finish levelling the scores, before Bellingham won it following poor defending from Valencia.
It was another underwhelming performance from the reigning champions, but they found a way to win, and the victory has moved them two points clear at the top of the table.
Barcelona are having their issues at the moment, so the strongest competition in terms of the title race may come from Atletico Madrid, who are having a spectacular campaign.
As for Valencia, relegation is a serious threat, with Los Che sitting 19th in the table, four points from the safety of 17th, but there is more than enough quality in their squad to move clear of the drop zone in the coming weeks, and new head coach Carlos Corberan can take positives from this clash despite the hugely disappointing finish.
VALENCIA VS. REAL MADRID HIGHLIGHTS
Hugo Duro goal vs. Real Madrid (27th min, Valencia 1-0 Real Madrid)
Valencia are in front against Real Madrid! 🦇
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) January 3, 2025
Hugo Duro with a tap-in to break the deadlock 👏 pic.twitter.com/VvxBlkWzeR
Valencia take the lead in the 27th minute of the contest, as Duro sweeps the ball into the back of the net from close range after Guerra had seen a strike kept out by Courtois - Los Che draw first blood in this La Liga contest.
Jude Bellingham penalty miss vs. Valencia (56th min)
Jude Bellingham misses a penalty! 🚨
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) January 3, 2025
The stutter step run up does him no favours as the Real Madrid star hits the post 😬 pic.twitter.com/H44GPEuOBP
Bellingham has the chance to level the scores from the penalty spot, but the England international hits the bottom of the post with his effort; Valencia survive, and the home side still have the lead at Mestalla.
Vinicius Junior red card vs. Valencia (80th min)
Vini Jr sent off after a VAR review and has to be dragged down the tunnel to be kept away from the referee 🟥
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) January 3, 2025
Real Madrid's night just keeps getting worse! 😱 pic.twitter.com/5dUzrHOMoo
Real Madrid are reduced to 10 men in the 80th minute, with Vinicius given his marching orders for a push on the Valencia goalkeeper, who fell to the ground following the altercation; the decision was given following a VAR check.
Luka Modric goal vs. Valencia (85th min, Valencia 1-1 Real Madrid)
Luka Modric comes up with an equaliser! 🔥
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) January 3, 2025
A frantic second half now sees Real Madrid level ⚪ pic.twitter.com/TmizzY6VHI
Real Madrid are not finished here! Los Blancos level the scores in the 85th minute of the contest, as Modric finds the back of the net with a composed finish after a clever pass from Bellingham inside the box.
Jude Bellingham goal vs. Valencia (95th min, Valencia 1-2 Real Madrid)
Bellingham in stoppage time!! 🙌
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) January 3, 2025
Surely that will be the winner for Real Madrid's 10 men ⚪ pic.twitter.com/cDsjhrq25G
Quite incredible scenes here - Real Madrid have won it.
Valencia give the ball away in a dangerous area, and Bellingham breaks through on goal before curling it into the corner; the home side have simply fallen apart from a position of such strength.
MAN OF THE MATCH - JUDE BELLINGHAM
© Imago
Bellingham missed a penalty early in the second period, but he proved to be the matchwinner late on, with the midfielder finding the back of the net after making the most of some lacklustre defending from the home team.
The 21-year-old also provided the assist for Modric to level the scores in the latter stages, while he won four aerial duels and made two key passes, with Bellingham deserving huge credit for driving his side forward in the second half.
VALENCIA VS. REAL MADRID MATCH STATS
Possession: Valencia 37%-63% Real Madrid
Shots: Valencia 8-17 Real Madrid
Shots on target: Valencia 5-5 Real Madrid
Corners: Valencia 2-5 Real Madrid
Fouls: Valencia 16-9 Real Madrid
BEST STATS
5 - Valencia had five shots on target against Real Madrid in the first half, their highest half-time tally in a LaLiga match since a year ago (5 vs Villarreal on 2 January 2024). Resurrection.
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 3, 2025
Real Madrid is the 2nd visiting team to win a La Liga match in Mestalla, going from defeat to victory in numerical inferiority. The first to achieve it was Real Zaragoza, on March 21, 2012.
— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) January 3, 2025
— @2010MisterChip pic.twitter.com/y4dN3i1jVL
WHAT NEXT?
Real Madrid's attention will now switch to the Copa del Rey, facing Deportiva Minera in the last-32 stage of the competition on Monday, before heading to Saudi Arabia to tackle Mallorca in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup on January 9, ahead of a potential final against either Athletic Bilbao or Barcelona on January 11; Ancelotti's side will then return to league action against Las Palmas on January 19.
Valencia, meanwhile, will be bidding to build on what was a strong performance when they head to Eldense in the Copa del Rey on January 7, before resuming their La Liga campaign against Sevilla at Estadio Ramon on January 11.
Matt Law
