In a thrilling late-game comeback, Real Madrid triumphed with a remarkable 2-1 victory over Valencia, even after being reduced to ten players. This achievement was made possible by crucial goals from Luka Modric and Jude Bellingham, propelling Madrid to the top of the La Liga standings with an impressive 43 points, two points ahead of second-placed Atlético Madrid, who still hold a game in hand. The match, initially postponed due to severe flooding in the region in late October, commenced amidst heightened tensions, as local fans clashed with police outside the Mestalla stadium during protests against club management.
The atmosphere was electric from the start, with both teams exhibiting fierce determination. Real Madrid opened the match assertively, with Federico Valverde and Valencia’s Hugo Duro coming close to scoring early on. However, their efforts were countered by adept defensive interventions. The breakthrough occurred in the 27th minute when Duro found the net. Following an exceptional save by Thibaut Courtois against Javi Guerra’s close-range shot, Duro seized the opportunity, effortlessly placing the ball into an open goal.
Unfazed by this setback, Madrid intensified their pursuit of an equalizer. In the second half, Bellingham came agonizingly close when awarded a penalty due to a foul by Enzo Barrenechea on Kylian Mbappé. Unfortunately, his attempt fell short as a poorly placed shot struck the post, leading to frustration among the visitors. The situation took a turn for the worse when a potential equalizing goal by Mbappé, five minutes later, was ruled out by VAR for offside.
Compounding Madrid’s challenges, Vinícius Júnior received a straight red card in the 79th minute for slapping Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski, leaving his team to navigate the final stages with a numerical disadvantage. Following the incident, Júnior expressed remorse on social media, stating, “Sorry and thank you team.” Nevertheless, the team showed remarkable resilience, and their persistence paid off. In the 85th minute, substitute Luka Modric scored the equalizer after receiving a perfectly timed through ball from Bellingham. Modric’s low shot past Dimitrievski reignited hope among the visitors.
As the match drew to a close, Bellingham showcased extraordinary composure under pressure, clinching the victory in the seventh minute of stoppage time. After a swift counter-attack, Bellingham skillfully maneuvered towards goal and surpassed the Valencia keeper, sealing a crucial and hard-fought win for his team. This defeat represented the first loss for Valencia under the leadership of their new coach, Carlos Corberan.
In a post-match press conference, Ancelotti commended Bellingham’s performance, emphasizing that the missed penalty only heightened the young midfielder’s determination. “The missed penalty gave [Bellingham] extra motivation; he contributed tremendously as only he can. He worked diligently, and the goal is a well-deserved reward for his outstanding performance,” Ancelotti remarked. For Valencia, this loss left them in a challenging position, occupying the second-bottom spot with just 12 points, four points shy of safety. Valencia striker Duro expressed his disappointment, stating, “It is incredibly painful to lose in this manner. We are not in a favorable momentum and had numerous chances. It is disheartening to surrender the advantage, especially following the sending-off. We must fully concentrate on performing our roles on the pitch. External circumstances are irrelevant to us. The support from our fans remains invaluable.”
