Real Madrid beat Valencia 3-0 to draw level with La Liga leaders Barcelona

Kylian Mbappe scored for the seventh match running as Real Madrid pulled provisionally level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona after a 3-0 win at 10-man Valencia. Jose Mourinho’s Madrid largely dominated at Mestalla Stadium on Saturday, securing an eighth win in a row across all competitions. Federico Valverde and Arda Guler’s first-half goals put Madrid in the driving seat, and Mbappe added a third in the second half.

Madrid have thrived in his absence, putting heavy pressure on Barca, whom they beat in the Camp Nou Clasico on October 25. In the ninth minute, the match stopped for players and fans to pay tribute to Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, who tragically died on Tuesday. Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a smart save to deny Aaron Mayol, who had picked Aurelien Tchouameni’s pocket in a dangerous area.

Valverde drilled Madrid ahead from outside the area after Mbappe’s free kick was blocked by the Valencia wall and fell to the Uruguayan.