Real Madrid beat 10-man Valencia to cut Barcelona’s lead at the top of La Liga to five points.
Los Blancos took the lead through a stunning left-footed strike from Marco Asensio in the 52nd minute.
Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr celebrated his 200th Real appearance with his side’s second goal two minutes later.
Gabriel Paulista was shown a straight red card for the visitors in the 72nd minute for kicking out at Vinicius.
Antonio Rudiger thought he had opened the scoring for the hosts in first-half stoppage time when he headed home from Luka Modric’s cross.
However, the goal was ruled out after a video assistant referee intervention for a Karim Benzema foul on Yunus Musah in the box.
France forward Benzema, 35, was substituted on the hour mark and walked off the pitch holding the back of his thigh.
Real travel to Liverpool on 21 February for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, but manager Carlo Ancelotti said Benzema’s injury was “very light”.
Ancelotti told DAZN: “This is what happens when you play every three days and there is no time to recover.”
Line-ups
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Courtois
- 6NachoBooked at 33mins
- 3MilitãoSubstituted forCarvajalat 36′minutes
- 22Rüdiger
- 12Camavinga
- 10ModricSubstituted forValverdeat 66′minutes
- 8KroosSubstituted forTchouaméniat 66′minutes
- 19Ceballos
- 11AsensioBooked at 62mins
- 9BenzemaBooked at 45minsSubstituted forRodrygoat 60′minutes
- 20Vinícius Júnior
Substitutes
- 2Carvajal
- 5Vallejo
- 7E Hazard
- 13Lunin
- 15Valverde
- 16Odriozola
- 18Tchouaméni
- 21Rodrygo
- 24Mariano
- 26López Andúgar
Valencia
Formation 4-3-3
- 25Mamardashvili
- 20Foulquier
- 5GabrielBooked at 72mins
- 12DiakhabyBooked at 60mins
- 14Gayà
- 4MusahSubstituted forCömertat 74′minutes
- 6Guillamón
- 18Ribeiro AlmeidaSubstituted forKourouma Kouroumaat 70′minutes
- 11Castillejo AzuagaSubstituted forde Sousa Mendonçaat 58′minutes
- 7CavaniSubstituted forPérez Martínezat 75′minutes
- 16Dias LinoSubstituted forLatorreat 70′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Herrerín
- 3Latorre
- 8Kourouma Kourouma
- 13Rivero
- 15Özkacar
- 19Duro
- 21Vázquez
- 22de Sousa Mendonça
- 24Cömert
- 29Pérez Martínez
- 33Mosquera
- 36Guerra
- Referee:
- Javier Alberola Rojas
- Attendance:
- 51,926
Live Text
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Match ends, Real Madrid 2, Valencia 0.
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Second Half ends, Real Madrid 2, Valencia 0.
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Attempt missed. Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Vinícius Júnior.
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Nacho (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Ilaix Moriba (Valencia).
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Attempt blocked. Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Vinícius Júnior.
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Foul by Rodrygo (Real Madrid).
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Ilaix Moriba (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Giorgi Mamardashvili.
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Attempt saved. Rodrygo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
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Rodrygo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Eray Cömert (Valencia).
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Foul by Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid).
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Ilaix Moriba (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Dani Ceballos.
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Attempt missed. Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Eduardo Camavinga.
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Attempt blocked. Nacho (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Foul by Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid).
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Dimitri Foulquier (Valencia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Attempt blocked. Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Eduardo Camavinga.
