With the victory over Valencia, Real move closer to Barcelona

Real Madrid maintained their flawless start to the 2026 La Liga season with a hard-earned victory away to Valencia, edging closer to arch-rivals Barcelona in the title race. The match at a lively Mestalla was far from straightforward, yet Madrid once again found a way to secure all three points, underlining their growing resilience as the campaign gathers momentum.

Head coach Álvaro Arbeloa was forced into a tactical reshuffle, opting for a 4-4-2 formation due to significant absences in attack. Vinícius Júnior was unavailable through suspension, while Rodrygo Goes missed out with injury. As a result, Kylian Mbappé partnered Gonzalo García up front, a pairing that struggled to impose itself during a cagey first half.

Clear chances were at a premium in the opening 45 minutes. Madrid enjoyed marginally more possession but found it difficult to penetrate Valencia’s compact defensive structure. The best opportunity of the half fell to right-back David Jiménez, who was making his La Liga debut. Cutting in from the right, he unleashed a low drive that was smartly saved by Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski, one of the few moments when the home side were seriously tested before the interval.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 65th minute. Álvaro Carreras injected urgency into Madrid’s play, driving forward with intent and beating two Valencia defenders before finishing confidently at the near post. The goal shifted the balance of the contest and lifted the visiting side, who began to play with greater assurance.

Valencia responded almost immediately and came agonisingly close to equalising. Lucas Beltrán struck a fierce effort that rattled the post, a moment that summed up the hosts’ frustration on the night. It proved to be their clearest chance of the match, and they were unable to build sustained pressure thereafter.

As Valencia pushed forward in search of a leveller, spaces opened up at the back. Madrid capitalised deep into stoppage time. In the first minute of added time, Brahim Díaz threaded a precise pass through the defence, allowing Mbappé to finish clinically and seal the result. The goal not only secured the win but also underlined Mbappé’s knack for decisive contributions, even on a relatively quiet evening by his high standards.

While the performance itself was not among Madrid’s most fluent displays, the outcome mattered far more. Champions are often defined by their ability to win on difficult nights, and this was a prime example. The victory moves Real Madrid to within one point of Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table, adding extra intrigue to the coming fixtures.

If Madrid can overcome an in-form Real Sociedad next week, they could temporarily climb to the summit. Barcelona, meanwhile, are scheduled to face Girona on Monday night, a match that could further shape the early title narrative.

Match Summary

For Real Madrid, this was not about style but substance. The three points keep their perfect record intact and ensure that the pressure remains firmly on Barcelona as the title race begins to take shape.