Dominant Real Madrid Maul Valencia 4–0 to Tighten Grip on La Liga Title Race

Real Madrid delivered a dominant performance at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday night, thrashing Valencia 4–0 in a match that once again highlighted Kylian Mbappé’s influence and the team’s growing confidence under Xabi Alonso.

The French superstar scored twice in the first half to lead Los Blancos to a commanding victory that keeps them firmly in control of the La Liga title race. Madrid began the match at a high tempo, pressing aggressively and dictating the rhythm from the opening whistle. Their early dominance was rewarded in the 19th minute when Vinícius Júnior’s cross struck the arm of Valencia defender Gabriel Paulista, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Mbappé stepped up calmly and converted the penalty, sending goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili the wrong way. Barely 12 minutes later, the French forward doubled Madrid’s advantage. A quick combination between Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde sliced through Valencia’s defense, allowing Mbappé to latch onto a precise through ball before finishing low into the bottom corner to make it 2–0. Valencia struggled to cope with Madrid’s movement and intensity, with Bellingham and Valverde controlling the midfield while Vinícius tormented the visitors down the left flank. The Brazilian had a chance to get on the scoresheet himself when Madrid won a second penalty, but Mamardashvili guessed correctly to deny him. Moments later, Bellingham made amends for his teammate’s miss, curling home a fine effort from the edge of the box to make it 3–0 before halftime. The second half saw Madrid ease off slightly, managing possession and dictating the pace of the game. Valencia, frustrated and disjointed, rarely threatened Andriy Lunin’s goal. In the 82nd minute, substitute Álvaro Carreras added the fourth goal with a composed left-footed finish after a clever assist from Brahim Díaz, sealing an emphatic win for the home side. Madrid’s victory keeps them several points clear at the top of the table, continuing their unbeaten run in the league this season. Mbappé’s brace took his tally to 11 goals in La Liga, reinforcing his status as one of the league’s standout performers since his summer arrival from Paris Saint-Germain. Head coach Xabi Alonso praised his team’s focus after the game, saying, “We showed great intensity, discipline, and fluid attacking football. The players are understanding the balance between control and creativity — and that’s what makes this team special.” For Valencia, the result marks another disappointing night in what has been an inconsistent campaign. They remain in the bottom half of the table and will need to regroup quickly ahead of next week’s clash against Villarreal. Real Madrid will now turn their attention to their midweek UEFA Champions League fixture, where they will look to maintain their perfect record in Europe before returning to domestic duty. With Mbappé, Bellingham, and Vinícius all in sparkling form, Madrid appear unstoppable — and their latest performance sends a clear message to their rivals that the chase for the La Liga title may already be slipping out of reach.