Real close the gap with Barça by defeating Valencia

Real Madrid maintained their perfect start to the 2026 La Liga season with a hard-fought victory away to Valencia, edging closer to leaders Barcelona after a demanding night at Mestalla. The match was far from fluent, yet Madrid once again demonstrated their growing ability to grind out results when conditions are far from ideal.

Head coach Álvaro Arbeloa opted for a 4-4-2 formation, a decision shaped largely by necessity. Vinícius Júnior was absent through suspension, while Rodrygo Goes remained sidelined with injury. In their absence, Kylian Mbappé partnered young forward Gonzalo García in attack, with the expectation that pace and movement would unsettle Valencia’s back line. However, the plan did not fully materialise in the opening period.

The first half was cagey and low on clear chances. Both sides prioritised defensive solidity, leading to a midfield battle that rarely opened up into meaningful attacking play. Madrid’s best opportunity before the interval fell to right-back David Giménez, who was making his La Liga debut. Advancing from the flank, Giménez struck a well-directed effort that forced Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski into a sharp save at his near post. Aside from that moment, Dimitrievski was largely untroubled, while Madrid themselves remained disciplined at the back.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 65th minute and was crafted through individual brilliance. Álvaro Carreras surged forward, evading two Valencia defenders with a clever change of direction before driving a precise finish inside the near post. The goal lifted Madrid’s tempo and briefly silenced the Mestalla crowd.

Valencia responded with renewed urgency and came agonisingly close to equalising soon after conceding. Lucas Beltrán struck a powerful shot that clipped the post and bounced away, a moment that summed up the home side’s frustration. It proved to be their clearest opportunity of the evening, and failing to capitalise ultimately cost them any realistic chance of a comeback.

As Valencia pushed forward in the closing stages, spaces began to appear. Madrid exploited one such opening in the first minute of stoppage time. Brahim Díaz delivered a perfectly weighted pass into the box, allowing Mbappé to apply a composed finish and seal the three points. The goal underlined Mbappé’s growing influence, even on nights when his overall involvement is limited.

By Arbeloa’s own standards, this was not a polished Real Madrid performance. The team lacked fluency in attack and rhythm in possession for long stretches. Yet the result carries significant weight. With this victory, Madrid move to within a single point of Barcelona in the La Liga table, keeping the title race finely balanced.

If Madrid can overcome an in-form Real Sociedad next week, they could temporarily climb to the top of the standings. Barcelona, meanwhile, are scheduled to face Girona on Monday night, adding further intrigue to what is shaping up to be a closely contested season.

Match Summary

While the performance may not linger in the memory, the result certainly will. For Real Madrid, momentum—and pressure on Barcelona—continues to build.