La Liga: Real Madrid thrash Valencia

Real Madrid hosted Valencia in a La Liga clash on Saturday evening

Madrid needed a win to bounce back from last weekend’s slip at Rayo Vallecano

The win pushed Real to within two points of La Liga leaders

Real Madrid bounced back from their previous weekend’s stumble against Rayo Vallecano with a convincing 5-1 victory over Valencia, staying in pursuit of La Liga leaders Girona. Girona’s win over Rayo Vallecano earlier in the day had momentarily opened up a five-point gap at the top, putting pressure on Carlo Ancelotti’s side to respond.

Madrid showcased their resilience at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo leading the charge with impressive doubles. Despite securing a spot in the Champions League last 16 midweek against Braga, Madrid faced a potential setback with growing concerns about Jude Bellingham’s availability for England next week.

The Madrid captain, Dani Carvajal, wasted no time dispelling any lingering doubts, scoring a superb opener in the third minute. Toni Kroos delivered a pinpoint crossfield pass, perfectly controlled by Carvajal, who struck a powerful half-volley from 22 yards with his weaker foot.

With momentum on their side, Ancelotti’s team continued to dominate. Kroos rattled the crossbar, setting the stage for a second goal just before halftime. Rodrygo’s precise delivery from the right found Vinicius Jr, who creatively chested the ball into the ground, beating Valencia’s goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili in the 42nd minute.

Valencia, hoping for a break to interrupt Madrid’s momentum, saw their aspirations dashed early in the second half. Rodrygo fed the ball to Vinicius Jr, who skillfully cut inside and drove a shot into the bottom corner, extending Madrid’s lead to 3-0 within four minutes of the restart.

The night went from bad to worse for Mamardashvili in the 61st minute when his attempted pass from the back was intercepted by Rodrygo, who confidently slotted the ball into the corner, celebrating with Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic “siu.”

Vinicius Jr, seeking a hat-trick, had his chance blocked just past the hour mark, leading to his substitution in the 82nd minute. However, the goal frenzy persisted as Rodrygo claimed his second of the evening in the 84th minute. A delivery from Madrid substitute Fran Garcia allowed the young forward to showcase his skills, twisting and turning inside the penalty area before firing the ball into the far corner.

Valencia managed a consolation goal when Hugo Gonzalez crossed for Hugo Duro to hook home on the turn, but it did little to overshadow Madrid’s stellar performance.

Ancelotti’s title-chasing squad now finds themselves two points behind Girona as they head into the international break. A crucial trip to Cadiz awaits them in a fortnight, providing an opportunity to further close the gap and continue their pursuit of LaLiga glory.