Real Madrid beat Valencia 3–0 at Mestalla on Matchday 12 of La Liga to move up to second and put pressure on Barcelona and Atlético Madrid ahead of their showdown on Sunday evening.
José Mourinho’s side made it three wins from three away games in a week, having beaten Racing Santander by the same scoreline in La Liga before coming from behind to defeat AEK Athens 3–2 in the Champions League.
Federico Valverde opened the scoring in the 28th minute with a low drive from outside the box, before Arda Güler doubled Madrid’s lead in the 36th by turning in Jude Bellingham’s low cross after it deflected off defender César Tárrega.
Thibaut Courtois kept out an effort from Arnaut Danjuma in the second half before Güler played Kylian Mbappé through in the 75th minute, allowing the Frenchman to round goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski and slot into an empty net for his 13th La Liga goal of the season.
Valencia finished with ten men after captain José Gayà was sent off in the 79th minute for a challenge on Mbappé, with Javier Aguirre’s side remaining 19th on nine points.
A fifth successive league win took Real Madrid to 30 points, level with leaders Barcelona and two clear of Atlético Madrid, who host Barça at the Metropolitano in the final match of the round.
A Barcelona win would restore their three-point lead over Madrid, while an Atlético victory would take them top by a point ahead of both clubs and a draw would leave Barça one point clear of Real.
After the international break, Real Madrid host Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabéu on 21 November and welcome PSV Eindhoven on 24 November as they chase a fifth win from five Champions League games.
