"A night of magic and violence" at the Mestalla: Real Madrid devour Valencia and pile pressure on Barcelona

A superb match from the Royal side

Real Madrid beat Valencia 3-0 on Saturday evening at the Mestalla to make it eight straight wins in all competitions and temporarily draw level with Barcelona at the top of La Liga. Kylian Mbappe also closed the gap on Raphinha in the Pichichi race to just two goals.

The game carried a moving human dimension, dedicated to Jesus de Miguel, the former Tenerife player who died tragically earlier in the week during a Segunda Division match. The teams honoured him before kick-off, and the fans paid a special tribute in the ninth minute, in memory of his shirt number.

Madrid took control early and broke the deadlock in the 28th minute through Federico Valverde, who smashed home a half-volley after Mbappe's free kick rebounded off the wall.

Arda Guler doubled the lead in the 36th minute, latching onto Jude Bellingham's run down the wing, before Yan Diomande passed up the chance to make it three before the break.

Pablo Mavio fumed at the officials in the minutes that followed. He vented his anger in a half-time interview, criticising a foul awarded against his side in the build-up to Valverde's goal.

Madrid stayed on top after the restart. Guler and Mbappe spurned several chances to stretch the lead before the Frenchman finally got his goal in the 75th minute, collecting a perfectly weighted pass from Guler, rounding Valencia keeper Dimitrievski and slotting into an empty net.

Things got worse for Valencia when Jose Luis Gaya was sent off in the 79th minute for a challenge on Mbappe, who copped mocking chants from the home crowd and left the pitch to a chorus of jeers.

That goal took Mbappe to 13 in La Liga, just two behind Raphinha at the summit of the scoring charts. Madrid march on, temporarily level with Barcelona in the fight for top spot.