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Valencia 1-2 Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti said before the clash at Mestalla that he would remind his players that his team had suffered two defeats after the Christmas break in recent years. They received the note just in time to eliminate an unfortunate Valencia in Carlos Corberán’s first game.
Los Che were the better team during the first half hour, creating three clear chances, all thwarted by Thibaut Courtois, before managing to break the deadlock. Courtois was again available to stop Javi Guerra’s attempt after Valencia’s last fluid play, after Dimitri Foulquier returned the ball to him. However, the Belgian great was unable to prevent Hugo Duro from stepping forward to score the first goal, but the defense did not pursue him on the rebound.
Real Madrid immediately perked up, advanced and fired several long-distance shots in the direction of Stole Dimitrievski. His first notable save came from Vinicius Junior, when Dani Ceballos slid him into the box and the North Macedonian stuck out a great foot to deny the Brazilian. However, the drama was just beginning.
Today we are 46,420 in #Mestalla 🏟️🙌
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—Valencia CF (@valenciacf) January 3, 2025
Shortly into the second half, Real Madrid gave away a penalty after Kylian Mbappé ran after César Tárrega. However, it wasn’t Mbappé who stepped up and passed the ball to Jude Bellingham, but he couldn’t hit the inside of the post with a choppy run. Bellingham, unconcerned by the mistake, became provider of a brilliant Mbappé finish, rounding Dimitrievski to equalize on the hour mark, only for VAR to intervene this time and rule the Frenchman was slightly offside. game.
However, Corberan’s team appeared to have weathered the storm in the closing stages, and when Vinicius raised his hands towards Dimitrievski’s face, the Brazilian was manhandled down the tunnel by Antonio Rudiger after being sent off.
However, Ancelotti did not blink, nor did Luka Modric when presented with a golden opportunity to equalize. Introduced minutes before, Brahim Díaz, another substitute for Rodrygo Goes after he missed a golden opportunity, recovered the ball high up the field and fed Bellingham. This time his lovely ball behind was not in vain, as Modric timed his run perfectly and finished with aplomb.
— Real Madrid CF (@realmadrid) January 3, 2025
As added time progressed, Valencia were looking to see the game out, but Real Madrid, always ambitious, were the ones who seemed to have more in the tank. When his pressure reached Foulquier, Hugo Guillamon barely caught up with his loose pass. He could only push the ball into Bellingham’s path, and the Englishman’s shot was what you would expect from the number nine he transforms into in the box. The Che were sunk, except for one last cannon shot by Luis Rioja. His shot beat Courtois at all ends and cruelly hit the inside of the post with the last shot of the match.
It leaves Real Madrid at the top of the table for the first time this season, with a five-point gap over rivals Barcelona, replacing Atlético Madrid by a two-point margin, although their city rivals have a party less. It was an epic comeback that was sorely lacking for much of the game, but it won’t get the credit it deserves due to its habit of doing just that. Valencia will feel unlucky not to have picked up points in the match after a spirited if inconsistent performance. Corberán could sleep easier for his performance, but the four-point gap to safety guarantees a grim trip home from Mestalla.
