Real Madrid Beat Valencia 3-0 to Move Level With Barcelona
Federico Valverde, Arda Guler and Kylian Mbappe scored at Mestalla as Madrid reached 30 points, level with leaders Barcelona. Valencia captain Jose Gaya was sent off late, and the home side stayed second from bottom.
Key points
- Real Madrid beat Valencia 3-0 at Mestalla on Saturday night.
- Valverde broke the deadlock with a fierce half volley from the edge of the box in the 28th minute, Reuters reported.
- Guler also made the third goal in the 75th minute.
Real Madrid beat Valencia 3-0 at Mestalla on Saturday night. Federico Valverde scored in the 28th minute, Arda Guler added a second in the 36th, and Kylian Mbappe scored the third in the 75th. The win took Madrid to 30 points, level with La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Two goals in eight minutes settle the first half
Valverde broke the deadlock with a fierce half volley from the edge of the box in the 28th minute, Reuters reported. Eight minutes later, Guler turned in Jude Bellingham's deflected cross from close range to make it 2-0. Valencia started the night second from bottom and offered little in reply before halftime.
Guler also made the third goal in the 75th minute. He sent Mbappe clear, and the forward rounded the advancing goalkeeper and tapped the ball into an empty net. It was a goal and an assist on the same night for the 21-year-old Turkey international.
Gaya sent off late
Valencia's night got worse four minutes after the third goal. Captain Jose Gaya was sent off in the 79th minute for a fierce tackle on Mbappe, and the home side played the closing minutes with 10 men.
What the result means
Madrid have 30 points and stay behind Barcelona on goal difference, having played one game more, Reuters reported. On Matchday 12, the result keeps Madrid level at the top and keeps the pressure on Barcelona.
Valencia stayed second from bottom with nine points from 12 matches. For Madrid, a three-goal away win without conceding is the kind of result that keeps a title race level through an international break. The defeat leaves the club in the relegation zone at Mestalla, its home ground since 1923 and one of the steepest stadiums in Europe, with hard fixtures still to come.
Key numbers
Final score: Valencia 0, Real Madrid 3. Scorers: Valverde in the 28th minute, Guler in the 36th, Mbappe in the 75th. Red card: Gaya of Valencia in the 79th minute. League points: Madrid 30, level with Barcelona. Valencia 9, second from bottom. Venue: Mestalla in Valencia. It was Matchday 12 of the La Liga season.
What is next
La Liga now pauses for the last international break of 2026. Madrid come back level on points with Barcelona and chasing on goal difference. Valencia come back in the bottom two, short on points and short on goals, and in need of a win as soon as the league resumes.
Timeline
- Nov 7, 2026Federico Valverde scores in the 28th minute with a half volley from the edge of the box. Valencia 0, Real Madrid 1.
- Nov 7, 2026Arda Guler turns in Jude Bellingham's deflected cross in the 36th minute. Valencia 0, Real Madrid 2 at halftime.
- Nov 7, 2026Guler sets up Kylian Mbappe in the 75th minute. Mbappe rounds the goalkeeper and scores into an empty net.
- Nov 7, 2026Valencia captain Jose Gaya is sent off in the 79th minute for a fierce tackle on Mbappe.
- Nov 7, 2026Full time at Mestalla: Valencia 0, Real Madrid 3. Madrid reach 30 points, level with Barcelona. Valencia stay second from bottom on nine points.