Real Madrid survived a grind, managing a vital 2-0 victory over Valencia at the Mestalla. Despite missing a host of superstars, Alvaro Arbeloa’s side relied on a moment of individual brilliance from Alvaro Carreras and a clinical finish from Kylian Mbappe to keep the pressure on league leaders Barcelona.
For 65 minutes, a makeshift Real Madrid side struggled to find their rhythm. Missing the suspended Vinicius Jr. and the injured trio of Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, and Eder Militao, Arbeloa was forced to start academy products Raul Asensio, David Jimenez, and Gonzalo García.
Alvaro Carreras produced a moment of magic to break the deadlock. The 22-year-old fullback slalomed past three Valencia defenders before slotting a low shot through a defender’s legs and into the bottom corner.
While some viewed it as a solo masterclass, others noted a bit of luck as an attempted clearance ricocheted back to his feet, allowing him to finish with his weaker foot.
As Valencia pushed for a late equalizer-nearly finding one through Filip Ugrinic, whose effort clipped the post, Real Madrid struck on the counter-attack in the 90th minute.
Substitute Brahim Diaz exploited the space left by a desperate Valencia backline, surging down the left before squaring the ball for Kylian Mbappe.
Golden Boot race: The goal was Mbappe’s 23rd league goal of the season, leaving him just one goal behind Harry Kane for the top spot in the European Golden Shoe race.
Coach Alvaro Arbeloa praised the resilience of his squad, acknowledging that while the performance wasn't "brilliant," the commitment was undeniable.
Playing at Valencia is always like going to the dentist. We knew how difficult it would be. We can certainly raise our game in terms of brilliance, but a team is built on solidity. Thibaut Courtois didn't have to make a single save today
Alvaro Arbeloa, Real Madrid Manager
Madrid's creative struggles without Jude Bellingham were out in the open. While Arda Guler was active, Valencia’s defence was able to focus entirely on neutralizing Mbappe for the majority of the game. The return of Vinicius Jr. for the next fixture will be a welcome relief for an offense that looked uninspiring for long stretches on Sunday.
