Real Madrid easily defeated Valencia 5-1 at the Bernabeu on Saturday night, demonstrating that they had little trouble even without Jude Bellingham. With doubles from Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, Carlo Ancelotti’s team was able to pull within two points of surprise La Liga leaders Girona. Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal also scored on goal, and Hugo Duro of the visitors received a late consolation.

On November 11, 2023, in Madrid, Spain, at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and Valencia CF, Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring the team’s second goal.

Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo, two Brazilians, each scored a brace as Real Madrid crushed Valencia 5-1 in La Liga on Saturday.After three minutes, Real seized the lead when Dani Carvajal went inside his man and hammered a half-volley home from outside the area after Toni Kroos’ 50-yard diagonal ball found him.

Three minutes before halftime, Vinicius added a second when he diverted Rodrygo’s low cross that bounced awkwardly home with his chest.

Shortly after the break, the Real Madrid winger scored his third goal of the game, cutting in and firing a low effort inside the near post.Giorgi Mamardashvii, the goalie for Che, threw the ball to Rodrygo immediately after a minute, who scored with joy.Hugo Duro of Valencia scored a late consolation goal in the 88th minute after Rodrygo scored his second goal and Real’s fifth on 84 minutes after he had turned a defender inside out.Real now trails La Liga leaders Girona by just two points after the victory. Valencia slides to ninth place.

TALKING POINT – BELLINGHAM ABSENCE GIVES OTHERS CHANCE TO SHINE

This season, Jude Bellingham’s light has glowed so brightly that it has been hard for any other Real Madrid player to draw any notice. Similar to Wednesday, Brahim Diaz demonstrated his ability as an offensive midfield backup, Toni Kroos shown that he still has plenty of life left in his illustrious career, while Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr. gave the home crowd far more than they paid for.It’s easy to believe that Real Madrid’s season hinges on the recovery from what we hope is not a serious shoulder injury, and that they will undoubtedly need England’s best player in the major European games. However, this Los Blancos generation is far more capable than Bellingham sidemen, and they can handle most La Liga teams just fine without him.

..

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – VINICIUS JR (REAL MADRID)

He really is a remarkable player. His second goal we have seen from him before, which didn’t make it any less spectacular, but the first goal with a diving chest said a lot about the genius he possesses.At 23 he has achieved so much and on the back of two 20-goal seasons he could be about to take his game to a higher plane.

PLAYER RATINGS

Real Madrid: Lunin 7; Carvajal 8, Nacho 6, Alaba 6, Mendy 7; Camavinga 6, Valverde 7, Kroos 8, Brahim Diaz 7, Rodrygo 9, Vinicius Junior 10*. Subs: Modric 7, Garcia 6, Vazquez 6, Joselu 6, Paz Martinez 6.Valencia: Mamardashvili 4; Correia 6, Mosquera 5, Gabriel 5, Jose Gaya 6; Pepelu 6, Javi Guerra 5; Fran Perez 5, Sergi Canos 6, Diego Lopez 6; Hugo Duro 6. Subs: Gasiorowski 6, Foulquier 5, Guillamon 6, Gonzalez 7, Yaremchuk 6.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

3′ – Goal! Real Madrid 1-0 Valencia (Carvajal): Carvajal with a cracker inside three minutes. Kroos played a 50-yard cross-field ball which Carvajal took inside of the Real full-back and then smashed home from 20 yards on the half-volley.8′ Off the bar! A marvellous effort from Kroos, curling a shot over the wall but it clips the bar and goes over.

42′ – Goal! Real Madrid 2-0 Valencia (Vinicius Jr): Vinicius Jr scores with his chest. Rodrygo puts in a low cross which bounces awkwardly but the left winger stoops and diverts home with his upper torso.49′ – Goal! Real Madrid 3-0 Valencia (Vinicius Jr): And a fabulous one from Vinicius Jr. He received the ball 35 yards from goal on the left wing then raced towards goal turning inside two defenders before curling an unstoppable low shot inside the near post.

50′ – Goal! Real Madrid 4-0 Valencia (Rodrygo): This is getting silly. Almost from the restart, the ball is played back to Mamardashvili who played it straight to Rodrygo 20 yards from goal and he slotted the ball home.84′ – Goal! Real Madrid 5-0 Valencia (Rodrygo): Rodrygo scores another fine goal. He turns outside Mosquera and then drives the ball low inside the far post.88′ – Goal! Real Madrid 5-1 Valencia (Duro): Duro finally gets on the scoresheet. Gonzalez crossed low from the right wing and Duro gets in front of his man and shoots home.