10 man Real Madrid stun Valencia to go Top of La Liga

Real Madrid staged a dramatic late comeback to secure a 2-1 victory over Valencia at the Mestalla, propelling them to the top of La Liga. Despite being reduced to 10 men, late goals from Luka Modric and Jude Bellingham secured all three points for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

The match, rescheduled due to flooding in October, began with a tense atmosphere following clashes between Valencia fans and police outside the stadium. However, the on-field action quickly ignited, with both sides creating early chances.

Valencia took the lead in the 27th minute through Hugo Duro, who tapped in after Thibaut Courtois had saved Javi Guerra’s initial effort. Real Madrid pushed for an equalizer, but Bellingham missed a golden opportunity when his penalty struck the post after a foul on Kylian Mbappé.

Mbappé then had a goal disallowed for offside, and Real’s task was made even harder when Vinícius Júnior was shown a straight red card for slapping Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Real Madrid refused to surrender. Substitute Modric levelled the score with five minutes remaining, finishing coolly from Bellingham’s through ball. Then, deep into stoppage time, Bellingham redeemed himself for his earlier penalty miss, calmly slotting home the winning goal.

This dramatic victory sends Real Madrid two points clear of Atlético Madrid at the top of La Liga, although Atlético have a game in hand. For Valencia, the defeat is a bitter blow in their fight against relegation, leaving them second from bottom and four points from safety.

Bellingham’s late winner was a fitting reward for his perseverance after his earlier penalty miss. Ancelotti praised the young midfielder’s resilience and contribution to the victory.

Valencia were left to rue their missed opportunity to secure a vital point against the league leaders. Duro expressed his disappointment at the late collapse, highlighting the impact of the red card and the missed chances.

This thrilling encounter showcased Real Madrid’s never-say-die attitude and their ability to overcome adversity. Their late heroics have sent a strong message to their title rivals and solidified their position as La Liga frontrunners.