Real Madrid beat Valencia 3-0 to move level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona

Real Madrid beat Valencia 3-0 at the Mestalla Stadium on Saturday in La Liga, Spain's top football division, with the hosts finishing the game with ten men. The result moved Madrid provisionally level on points with table leaders and reigning champions Barcelona.

Federico Valverde and Arda Guler scored in the first half, and French striker Kylian Mbappe added a third after the break. Mbappe has now scored in seven consecutive matches. It was his 13th league goal this season and his 17th in 16 appearances across all competitions.

How the match unfolded

The game began with a close call for Madrid, as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois denied Aaron Mayol, and Valencia's Guido Rodriguez had a goal ruled out for offside. Jose Mourinho's side then took control. Valverde struck from outside the area after Mbappe's free kick was blocked and fell to him, and Guler doubled the lead soon after, when Jude Bellingham's cross deflected into his path.

In the second half, Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski made several saves, including from Mbappe and Bellingham. Mbappe eventually scored the third, running onto a pass from Guler. About ten minutes from time, Valencia's Jose Gaya was sent off for a late sliding foul on Mbappe.

Background

Madrid played without winger Vinicius Junior, who was serving the last game of a four-match ban. The team has now won eight games in a row in all competitions, and beat Barcelona in the Clasico at Camp Nou on October 25. In the ninth minute, play was stopped to pay tribute to Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, who died tragically on Tuesday.

Barcelona visit third-placed Atletico Madrid on Sunday, aiming to move clear of the chasing pack again.