Real Madrid 4-0 Valencia: Usual culprit leads the way in rout at the Bernabeu
Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Real Madrid tightened their grip on top spot in La Liga with a 4-0 win over Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday night.
The French forward struck twice in the first half before Jude Bellingham and Alvaro Carreras added to the tally, ensuring Madrid stretched their lead at the summit to seven points, with Barcelona yet to play.
Valencia were pinned back from the outset and Real’s pressure soon told when Cesar Tarrega was penalised for handball in the box, allowing Mbappe to convert from the spot in the 19th minute.
Madrid doubled their advantage just past the half-hour mark. Bellingham found Arda Guler with an incisive pass down the left channel, and the young Turkish winger’s cross was met on the volley by an unmarked Mbappe.
Valencia’s task grew harder when Thierry Correia brought down Carreras inside the area, earning Madrid a second penalty. Mbappe left it for Vinicius Junior but the Brazilian failed to convert, his attempt straight down the middle easily saved by Agirrezabala.
The miss barely mattered because moments later Bellingham took matters into his own hands, cutting in from the right before curling a low strike into the far corner to make it 3-0 before half-time.
The second half was largely a procession. Madrid slowed the tempo but continued to dominate possession, rarely giving Valencia a chance to break.
Carreras added some gloss with the goal of the night, a fierce left-footed drive from a tight angle on the left that flew into the top corner.
