VALENCIA, SPAIN – JANUARY 03: Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring their sides second goal during the LaLiga match between Valencia CF and Real Madrid CF at Estadio Mestalla on January 03, 2025 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Ten-man Real Madrid moved top of LALIGA with a late 2-1 victory over Valencia on Friday night.
LALIGA
Result: Valencia 1-2 Real Madrid
Date: 03 January 2025
Venue: Mestalla
Madrid were boosted by the return from injury of Vinicius Junior, who joined Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham in attack.
Los Blancos had the bulk of possession in the opening exchanges but it was Valencia who looked more dangerous on transitions.
It was no surprise just before the half-hour mark after Hugo Duro broke the deadlock for Los Ches with a strike from a rebound after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois parried a shot by Javi Guerra.
Carlo Ancelotti’s charges pinned Valencia in their own half for the latter part of the first stanza but they were wasteful in front of goal and went to the break trailing by an odd goal.
Madrid had a lifeline early from the break after they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Mbappe in the box.
However, Bellingham could not capitalize for the visitors, after his spot-kick came off the post.
Mbappe thought he had finally made it 1-1 for Los Blancos on the hour-mark, after he latched onto a through ball by Bellingham, rounded shot-stopper Stole Dimitrievski and rolled the ball into an empty net but the goal was chalked off for offside by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Madrid continued to have the momentum with 22 minutes to go as Ancelotti brought on Brahim Diaz in place of Rodrygo for fresh legs in attack.
Things got bad for Los Blancos in the last ten minutes after they were down to ten men following the red-card of Vinicius Junior, who was sent off for shoving down Dimitrievski.
However, Luka Modric levelled matters for Madrid five minutes later with a toe-poked effort in the box after a sustained pressure.
Ancelotti’s men were pushing for the winner in the closing minutes and Bellingham sealed the three points in stoppages with a shot past Dimitrievski in a one-on-one, after a mistake at the back by Valencia.
Madrid opened a two-point lead at the top of the standings.
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