Real Madrid go into the international break in second place in the table – and remain in touch with Girona. In the 5:1 win over Valencia, the playful Whites didn’t even miss the injured Bellingham
Real Madrid had already proved that they can score goals without Bellingham in Wednesday’s 3-0 Champions League win over Sporting Braga. Three days later – the top scorer was not even in the squad this time due to his shoulder injury – it worked again in the league. With a deserved 5:1 home win against previously unbeaten FC Valencia, the Whites kept pace with league leaders FC Girona, who had already won 2:1 at Rayo Vallecano earlier in the day.
In a turbulent opening period, it was a minor miracle that only Carvajal scored, perfectly receiving a diagonal ball from Kroos and finishing with a 16-meter volley into the bottom right-hand corner for an early lead (3rd minute). Kroos himself missed the 2:0 with a free-kick to the underside of the crossbar (8′), while at the other end substitute keeper Lunin thwarted two great chances from attacker Hugo Duro (10’/16′).
Only then did the Whites, with Rüdiger suspended (5th yellow card), manage to calm the game down – and finally take it all their own way. Two minutes after Hugo Duro had missed his third great opportunity with a header (40′), Vinicius Junior made it 2-0 after an attack down the right by curling a half-height Rodrygo delivery low into the goal with his chest
Keeper Mamardashvili makes a mistake – youngster Paz makes his debut
And Valencia’s backline remained criminally sleepy after the break. First, Vinicius Junior was allowed to pull inside without any pressure and shoot into the bottom left corner from the edge of the box – goal number four of the season (49′). Then keeper Mamardashvili played the ball into the legs of Rodrygo, who immediately made it 4:0 (50′).
Valencia were beaten, Real played out the game confidently and without unnecessary effort. While coach Carlo Ancelotti gave 19-year-old Argentinian Paz his La Liga debut, Rodrygo also scored a brace (84′) after an attack via Kroos and substitute Fran Garcia. Mamardashvili did not look too good in the process. And the hapless Hugo Duro was also finally allowed to celebrate (88′), but would have been better off scoring before the break
Real Madrid go into the international break second in the table – two points behind Girona and at least two ahead of defending champions FC Barcelona.
