Karim Benzema scored his 17th goal of the season as Real Madrid claimed a comfortable win over Valencia to return to second in La Liga.
The hosts dominated the first half and deservedly took an early lead when Benzema curled in a precise finish.
Toni Kroos then added a second before the break as he finished off a neat move.
Valencia did not manage a shot on goal until the second half with Maxi Gomez testing Thibaut Courtois from distance.
The win means Real Madrid are five points behind leaders Atletico Madrid, who have two games in hand.
Line-ups
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Courtois
- 2CarvajalSubstituted forVázquezat 28′minutes
- 5Varane
- 6Nacho
- 23Mendy
- 10ModricSubstituted forIscoat 79′minutes
- 14Casemiro
- 8Kroos
- 11AsensioSubstituted forArribas Calvoat 71′minutes
- 9BenzemaSubstituted forMarianoat 79′minutes
- 20Vinícius Júnior
Substitutes
- 13Lunin
- 17Vázquez
- 22Isco
- 24Mariano
- 26Altube
- 30Arribas Calvo
- 32Chust
- 35Gutiérrez
Valencia
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Doménech
- 2CorreiaBooked at 46mins
- 5Gabriel
- 6Reis Ferreira
- 14Gayà
- 18WassSubstituted forLeeat 64′minutes
- 19RacicBooked at 44mins
- 8SolerSubstituted forOlivaat 64′minutes
- 7Gonçalo GuedesBooked at 27minsSubstituted forMusahat 45′minutes
- 22GómezSubstituted forCutroneat 83′minutes
- 21Vallejo GalvánSubstituted forGameiroat 45′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Latorre
- 4Mangala
- 9Gameiro
- 10Oliva
- 11Cutrone
- 16Blanco
- 20Lee
- 23Remeseiro Salgueiro
- 25Rivero
- 30Musah
- Referee:
- José María Sánchez Martínez
Live Text
-
Match ends, Real Madrid 2, Valencia 0.
-
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 2, Valencia 0.
-
Foul by Isco (Real Madrid).
-
Gabriel Paulista (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Yunus Musah.
-
Foul by Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid).
-
Thierry Correia (Valencia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
-
Casemiro (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Patrick Cutrone (Valencia).
-
Attempt missed. Uros Racic (Valencia) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.
-
Foul by Nacho (Real Madrid).
-
Thierry Correia (Valencia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
-
Substitution, Valencia. Patrick Cutrone replaces Maxi Gómez.
-
Nacho (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Thierry Correia (Valencia).
-
Substitution, Real Madrid. Isco replaces Luka Modric.
-
Substitution, Real Madrid. Mariano replaces Karim Benzema.
-
Foul by Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid).
-
Gabriel Paulista (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Attempt saved. Sergio Arribas (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Raphael Varane with a headed pass.
