Real Madrid triumphed over Valencia CF on January 3, winning 2-1 in a La Liga match rescheduled due to severe flooding last November. This match was particularly significant as it showcased 2nd-placed Real Madrid (with 40 points) facing 19th-placed Valencia (12 points), indicating the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs this season.
Madrid entered the match with momentum, remaining unbeaten over their last three league games. Coach Carlo Ancelotti made two lineup changes from the last match against Sevilla, bringing Vinicius Junior and Ferland Mendy back to the starting eleven, replacing Brahim Diaz and Eduardo Camavinga.
Early on, both teams had chances, but Valencia created the first serious threat. Just eight minutes in, Diego Lopez from Valencia had the opportunity to score after linking up with Hugo Duro, whose shot was thwarted by Real Madrid's goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois.
After enduring Valencia's initial pressure, the tide shifted as Valencia struck first. The breakthrough came at the 27th minute when Valencia countered after winning the ball from Rodrigo. Diego Lopez made a decisive pass to Federico Fulquie, who delivered a cross for Hugo Duro, who capitalized on the rebound from Courtois’s save.
This left Real Madrid trailing, but they responded with vigor. Federico Valverde attempted to level the score with a long-range shot, narrowly missing the target. Just before the halftime whistle, Vinicius Junior found himself one-on-one with Valencia’s keeper, Stole Dimitrievski, but once again failed to convert, maintaining the score at 1-0.
The second half opened with Real Madrid intensifying their efforts to equalize. They earned a penalty in the 52nd minute when Kylian Mbappe was fouled. Jude Bellingham stepped up but struck the right post, missing the golden opportunity to level the match.
Real Madrid's persistent efforts finally paid off at the 40th minute when Luka Modric capitalized on poor defending, scoring to equalize the match. This goal didn't just ignite the crowd; it revived the morale of all Madrid players who had been visibly frustrated up to this point.
Just moments later, controversy struck when Bellingham's excellent pass sent Mbappe clear on goal, but after VAR review, the goal was disallowed for offside, leaving Madrid supporters disheartened once more. Then came the pivotal moment: Vinicius Junior, reacting to being challenged by Dimitrievski, was sent off after retaliatory action, reducing Madrid to ten men.
Despite being down to ten players, Madrid continued to push forward, leading to changes as Ancelotti looked to add fresh legs by substituting Sebaios for Modric. This risk finally paid off when, at the 85th minute, Bellingham’s deft strike allowed Modric to latch onto the ball, scoring to put Madrid in the lead.
Just as the clock ticked toward the end, Valencia sought to equalize but fell victim to intense pressure from Madrid. This led to the match-stealing moment at the 95th minute when Bellingham seized on another defensive mistake, calmly dispatching the ball past Dimitrievski, sealing Madrid’s comeback victory.
The match wrapped up with Real Madrid claiming victory with goals from Modric and Bellingham, showcasing their resilience even when challenged with ten men. Vinicius Junior later took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his remorse, acknowledging his actions led to the red card.
The win not only boosts Madrid's position to the top of the league but also highlights their determination and fighting spirit amid adversity. Valencia will need to regroup after this defeat as they continue their struggle at the bottom of the table.