Real Madrid overcame a one-goal deficit and played with ten men to clinch a 2-1 victory against struggling Valencia on Friday night, propelling them to the top of La Liga. Valencia initially took the lead in the 26th minute when Hugo Duro finished from close range after Thibaut Courtois parried a powerful shot from Javi Guerra. It was a deserved goal for Valencia, who had started positively under new coach Carlos Corberlan, replacing Ruben Baraja.
Despite their early advantage, Valencia faced challenges, especially in the second half. Jude Bellingham struck the post from the penalty spot after Kylian Mbappe was fouled, shortly before Mbappe's goal was disallowed for marginal offside as Madrid pressed for an equaliser. The situation worsened for Madrid when Vinicius Jr was sent off in the 77th minute for his aggressive confrontation with Valencia's goalkeeper, Stole Dimitrievski. His reaction toward the referee could lead to additional sanctions.
Yet, Madrid rallied bravely even with one man down. Luka Modric, who had come on as a substitute, assisted Bellingham to equalise with just six minutes remaining. The decisive moment came deep, deep through injury time, as Bellingham capitalised on catastrophic miscommunication between Valencia defenders Dimitri Foulquier and Hugo Guillamon to net the winning goal. Valencia's Luis Rioja struck the post moments later, but time was against them and Madrid held on for the dramatic win.
With this victory, Real Madrid avoided back-to-back defeats for the first time since 2019 and climbed to 43 points, now two above local rivals Atletico Madrid, albeit having played one game more. The match at Valencia's Mestalla featured the team sitting second from bottom against one perched at the top, showcasing both teams' contrasting fortunes.
Earlier on the same day, fourth-tier club Pontevedra pulled off a shock by comprehensively defeating last year's Copa del Rey runners-up, Mallorca, with a score of 3-0. Dalisson de Almeida opened the scoring with a breathtaking goal from nearly 40 yards out, followed by strikes from Yelko Pino and Rufo Sanchez to complete the upset, which sent the Galicians through to the tournament's last 16.
Meanwhile, Getafe edged past Granada in another Copa del Rey match, where Borja Mayoral scored late in extra time to clinch victory. Rayo Vallecano also progressed with relative ease against second-tier Racing Ferrol, winning 3-1 with Jorge de Frutos netting twice. The thrilling action on the pitch underscored the unpredictability and excitement of Spanish football this season.
The spirit of resilience shown by Real Madrid against Valencia continues to reignite hopes among its supporters. It is reinvigorated, highlighted by the performances of young stars like Bellingham and veteran leadership from Modric. Conditions remain tough, with injuries and red cards threatening squad stability, yet this match showcased the mettle of the squad under pressure. With the season of La Liga still promising more surprises, every point counts as they vie for the title.