Real Madrid won a memorable postponed match in Valencia 2-1 and are the new La Liga leaders. With a man down after Vinicius’ red card, the Blancos turned the game around through Modric and Bellingham in injury time.
Valencia CF went into this crucial game, which was postponed at the end of October after the catastrophic floods in the region, with new coach Carlos Corberan, brought in from English second division side West Bromwich Albion shortly before the turn of the year. Because Real had subsequently donated millions, there was a thank-you message on the scoreboard before the kick-off.
The underdog stood up to the favorite from the start. Although Fede Valverde took the first dangerous shot (5th) – like all the other attempts on goal by the Blancos before half-time were parried by Valencia’s North Macedonian goalkeeper Dimitrievski – “Los Che” came forward after that. Hugo Duro and Foulquier (8th and 14th respectively) still failed to beat the well-reacting Courtois. Later on, the Belgian was unable to adequately defend a direct shot from Javi Guerra into the goal area where Hugo Duro was already lurking to successfully score (27th).
Valencia’s opening goal led to discussions because Bellingham had been brought down in midfield – but the VAR allowed the goal. Real were again displeased a little later when Vinicius Jr. went down on the baseline after a duel with Tarrega, but was not awarded the hoped-for penalty (35”). And because Fede Valverde shot just wide shortly afterwards (39) and Dimitrievski made a strong foot save to parry Vinicius’s spot-kick (43), Ancelotti’s side went into the break leading 1-0.
Penalty saved, VAR and red card
It didn’t get any better for the Madrilenians in terms of frustration after the restart. Mbappé won a penalty against Tarrega, but Bellingham shot it against the post (55′). Real kept their foot on the gas, Bellingham pushed through strongly to Mbappé, who elegantly curved around the keeper and slid the ball in for the supposed 1-1 (61′). The problem with that? The Frenchman was offside by a matter of millimeters.
Want more frustration, Real? Vinicius Jr. was sent off in the 79th minute after reacting to a provocation from Dimitrievski with a push and then had to be taken to the dressing room in a rage.
Modric comes and scores – Guillamon makes a serious mistake
Ancelotti reacted by bringing on Modric – and the old hand provided the much-needed consolation for the Real team, who had been so battered that evening. After a through ball from Bellingham, the Croatian kept his nerve and scored to make it 1-1 for the Blancos (85′). But that was not all: with ten men, Real even managed to score a third in the nine-minute stoppage time because Hugo Guillamon made a short back pass under pressure, Bellingham ran into it and scored clinically to make it 2-1 (90.+5).
With a man to the good, Valencia was punished late on for its passive play after the break and was unlucky that Luis Rioja hit the crossbar with the very last attempt in the game (90.+10). So on this remarkable evening, Real left Valencia as the new La Liga leaders.
The two clubs face each other again at the start of next week in the last-16 tie in the Copa del Rey, which is played over two legs. Valencia are back in action on January 11 in the Copa del Rey, while Real are in the Super Cup against Mallorca on Thursday and then Las Palmas at the Bernabeu on January 19.
