Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 2-0 win at Valencia to move within a point of La Liga leaders Barcelona, with goals from Alvaro Carreras and Kylian Mbappe.
VALENCIA: Real Madrid closed the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to a single point with a gritty 2-0 victory at Mestalla on Sunday. Goals from defender Alvaro Carreras and star forward Kylian Mbappe secured the crucial three points for Alvaro Arbeloa’s side.
The win came a day after champions Barcelona defeated Mallorca, maintaining intense pressure at the top. Missing the suspended Vinicius Junior and injured Jude Bellingham, Madrid lacked their usual flair but demonstrated resilience.
They created the better chances in a tight first half without consistently troubling Valencia’s defence. Stole Dimitrievski saved well with his legs from a fierce Mbappe drive, before later denying youth academy graduate David Jimenez.
The deadlock was broken midway through the second half by an unlikely source. Carreras, drifting in from the left, used his weaker right foot to stroke the ball inside Dimitrievski’s near post.
Valencia came close to an equaliser when Lucas Beltran’s effort beat Thibaut Courtois and clipped the post. England international Trent Alexander-Arnold then made his return from a thigh injury as a second-half substitute for Madrid.
The points were sealed deep into stoppage time when Brahim Diaz set up Mbappe. The French superstar finished calmly for his 23rd league goal of the campaign.
The result leaves Valencia in 17th place, just one point above the relegation zone. Some home fans waved white handkerchieves during the match in protest at the club’s situation.
