Valencia weren't bad - but that's not good enough when Real Madrid are firing on all cylinders
Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 12.11.23. | 00:56
Even without Jude Bellingham, the Madrid team ground their opponents down and celebrated a 5-1 win
Valencia arrived at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and delivered a performance they'll have no reason to be embarrassed with. However, their opponents on the night hit the opening goal inside the three opening minutes and proceeded to pound the visitors into the ground, running out 5-1 winners.
Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal is not the player you expect to score when there is so much attacking talent in the team, but he opened the scoring with a well-taken left-footed shot. And despite Ruben Baraja's team's best efforts and a valiant attempt at competing - they were hammered.
Vinicius Junior doubled the lead for Carlo Ancelotti's boys by chesting the ball into the net after a cross from Rodrygo within the penalty area. Real Madrid, despite missing their top scorer, Bellingham, shone in front of the goal. Los Blancos' goalie Andriy Lunin had to make two interventions, one of them particularly impressive, to prevent a goal from Hugo Duro. The forward had another clear chance, besides a couple of shots from outside the box.
Toni Kroos could have scored with a free-kick that hit the crossbar, but it was ultimately Vinicius who with his chest after a cross from Rodrygo. The latter had a chance for the third with a free-kick that just missed the top corner.
Vini showed that he could shoot from outside the box as he unleashed a powerful shot with his right foot to beat Giorgi Mamardashvili. Barely a minute later, the Georgian in Valencia's goal gifted Rodrygo an easy chance to make it four by fluffing his clearance. Rodrygo didn't need any more incentive so he entered the box and perfectly finished into the far corner. It was getting painful for the orange-clad visitors.
It was one of those nights when you felt that a team could score as many goals as they wanted. The longer the game went on, the more it felt like a training session - and Baraja's men looked like they would rather go to bed than play football. Rodrygo once again strolled into the opposition box and found the far corner with his left to pile more misery on Mamardashvili.
Hugo Duro got one of those consolation goals that provided no consolation at all with three minutes left.
LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 13
Friday
Athletic Club - Celta Vigo 4-3 (2-2)
/Sancet 37, Guruzeta 45+5, 52, Berenguer 90+8 pen - Aspas 25, Bamba 41, Larsen 66/
Saturday
Rayo Vallecano - Girona 1-2 (1-1)
/Garcia 5 - Dovbyk 42, Savio 65/
Almeria - Real Sociedad 1-3 (0-0)
/Arribas 76 - Oyarzabal 62, Fernandez 90+1 pen, Zubimendi 90+5/
Granada - Getafe 1-1 (1-1)
/Villar 45+4 - Mayoral 2/
Osasuna - Las Palmas 1-1 (0-0)
/Budimir 73 - Moleiro 70/
Real Madrid - Valencia 5-1 (2-0)
/Carvajar 3, Vini 42, 49, Rodrygo 50, 84 - Duro 88/
Sunday
18.15: (1.25) Barcelona (6.00) Alaves (11.0)
20.30: (2.20) Sevilla (3.50) Betis (3.50)
23.00: (1.37) Atl.Madrid (5.10) Villareal (7.75)
***odds are subject to change
