MX23RW : Monday, April 7 15:15:51| >> :60:2673:2673:
[monks data]
Real Madrid logo
La Liga | Gameweek 23
Feb 14, 2021 at 3.15pm UK
Estadio Santiago Bernabeu
Valencia logo

Real Madrid
2 - 0
Valencia

Benzema (12'), Kroos (42')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Guedes (27'), Racic (44'), Correia (46')

Real Madrid return to second spot in La Liga with win over Valencia

Zinedine Zidane's side moved within five points of leaders Atletico Madrid with a comfortable victory.

Real Madrid continued to cling to the coat-tails of city rivals Atletico in the La Liga title race after winning 2-0 at home against Valencia.

First-half goals from Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos won the game as Zinedine Zidane's team moved above Barcelona and into second place in the table, five points behind leaders Atletico, who have two games in hand.

Zidane switched from a 3-4-3 formation to a 4-3-3 as he made two changes following a 2-0 win over Getafe, with Marcelo and Marvin Park making way for Dani Carvajal and Kroos.

Valencia made just one change to the side that drew with Athletic Bilbao as Ferro replaced Hugo Guillamon in defence.

There was a nervous early moment from Jaume Domenech when the Valencia goalkeeper misjudged Casemiro's long-range shot, diving past the ball before having to desperately flick out a leg to divert it over the crossbar.

Domenech was beaten two minutes later when Madrid took the lead. Benzema drifted beyond Thierry Correia before whipping a low shot into the bottom corner of the net from just outside the box.

Benzema would have had a second goal after half an hour had it not been for a brilliant saving block by Gabriel.

Domenech beat away a 25-yard effort by Luka Modric as the hosts searched for a second goal, which arrived three minutes before half time when Kroos stylishly steered Lucas Vazquez's cutback into the net from the edge of the penalty area.

Valencia offered very little but almost halved the deficit early in the second half when Maxi Gomez's fierce strike forced Thibaut Courtois into an acrobatic save to tip it away.

The margin of victory would have been greater for Madrid had Domenech not made a fine save to block another Benzema effort, while Ferland Mendy had a goal chalked off by VAR.

ID:435246: cacheID:435246:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4777:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane pictured in February 2021
Read Next:
Sunday's La Liga predictions including Real Madrid vs. Valencia
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona30214583295467
2Real Madrid30196563313263
3Atletico MadridAtletico30179449242560
4Athletic Bilbao301412446242254
5Villarreal29139751391248
6Real BetisBetis3013984137448
7Celta Vigo30127114443143
8Real Sociedad30125133032-241
9Rayo Vallecano301010103335-240
10Mallorca30117122937-840
11Getafe30109113025539
12Sevilla3099123441-736
13GironaGirona3097143746-934
14Osasuna2971393342-934
15Valencia30810123447-1334
16Espanyol2988133140-932
17AlavesAlaves3079143344-1130
18Leganes2969142846-1827
19Las PalmasLas Palmas3068163451-1726
20Real ValladolidValladolid3044221969-5016


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!