Surprise goal hero seals Sunday win for Real Madrid

There was no suspended Vinícius, nor the injured Jude Bellingham.

Kylian Mbappé could not make the difference either.

And with Real’s biggest stars unable to break down Mestalla’s walls, a volunteer stepped forward.

Alvaro Carreras, after all, does not seem too fond of the ‘Bats’, and following his goal in November’s 4–0 win, he has now scored his second goal for the Royal Club against the same opponent.

The last one in November, the first today in a 2–0 victory—the seventh consecutive league win for the Madrid giant, which remains just one point behind leaders Barcelona.

Real did not impress; on the contrary, they played below their usual standards.

But they had Carreras, who looked like he had qualified for the Winter Olympics.

When Madrid did not know where to go, he set off on a slalom run through the entire home defense, fought past four markers to create a shooting position, and then cheekily flicked the ball with his heel through the legs and beyond the reach of the otherwise excellent Stole Dimitrievski.

We call him excellent because the Macedonian goalkeeper dealt with the few shots the visitors managed to send his way.

One stood out in the 28th minute when Arda Guler released Mbappe on the right flank.

The Frenchman struck from a tight angle, but Dimitrievski blocked the very dangerous attempt with his legs.

Aside from that, Real produced very little in attack.

Valencia initially unsettled them with a high press that prevented them from building play.

Then they dropped back and defended well for a long time, but began retreating too early and gradually invited pressure toward Dimitrievski’s goal.

Sooner or later, the dam had to break—and it did where no one expected it, through Carreras.

Only then did Valencia show some attacking ambition.

After a cross from Filip Ugrinic, Lucas Beltran threatened seriously, but by then the nerves had disappeared from Real’s game.

Mbappe tried again, just to warn the opponent not to overcommit, and in the final seconds he found the net for his 23rd league goal and 38th overall this season.

And that was that. Real keep chasing Barca, while Valencia sit just above the relegation zone.

Hence the chants from the stands directed at coach Carlos Corberan, whose departure is being demanded ever more loudly.

LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 23

Friday

Celta - Osasuna 1-2 (0-1)

/Iglesias 53 pen - Budimir 35, Garcia Ra. 79/

Saturday

Rayo Vallecano - Oviedo POSTPONED

Barcelona - Mallorca 3-0 (1-0)

/Lewandowski 29, Yamal 61, Bernal 83/

Real Sociedad - Elche 3-1 (2-1)

/Sucic 24, Oyarzabal 37, Oskarsson 89 - Silva 42/

Sunday

Alaves - Getafe 0-2 (0-0)

/Vazquez 53, Arambarri 53(p)/

Sevilla - Girona 1-1 (0-1)

/Salas 90+2 - Lemar 2/

Athletic Bilbao - Levante 4-2 (2-0)

/Guruzeta 29, 34, Serrano 86, Navarro 90+6 - Elgezabal 81, Olasagasti 90+4/

Atletico Madrid - Betis 0-1 (0-1)

/Antony 28/

Valencia - Real Madrid 0-2 (0-0)

/Carrreras 65, Mbappe 90+1/

Monday

23.00: (1.75) Villarreal (3.60) Espanyol (4.90)

***odds are subject to change***