Jude Bellingham's late heroics earned 10-man Real Madrid a 2-1 victory over Valencia, securing top spot in La Liga. The match, held on Friday, saw Madrid reduced to ten players after Vinicius Junior was sent off, but Bellingham's dramatic late goal ensured a crucial win.
Valencia took the lead in the 27th minute through Huro Duro. A shot from Javi Guerra was initially saved by Thibaut Courtois, but Duro pounced on the rebound to give the hosts a deserved advantage. Madrid, struggling in the first half, found it difficult to break down Valencia’s defence.
In the second half, Bellingham had a chance to equalise from the penalty spot after a foul on Kylian Mbappe, but he missed, sending his low shot against the post. While replays suggested Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski was off his line, the officials did not penalise him for the mistake.
Despite the setback, Madrid didn’t give up and equalised in the 85th minute when Bellingham set up Luka Modric, who fired home to bring Madrid back into the game.
With the match winding down, Madrid snatched victory in stoppage time. A defensive error by Valencia allowed Bellingham to seize the ball and score, taking his tally to six goals in his last seven games.
His late strike secured a vital three points for Madrid, moving them two points ahead of Atletico Madrid at the top of the table.
Vinicius, however, was sent off after a clash with Valencia's goalkeeper. After being fouled, he shoved Dimitrievski in the back of the neck, earning a red card in the 80th minute.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed surprise at the decision, stating that he didn’t think Vinicius’ action deserved such punishment.
Valencia, on the other hand, continued their struggles. Despite their early goal, they couldn’t hold onto the lead and remain in the relegation zone, four points adrift of safety.
The win for Madrid highlighted their resilience, with Bellingham’s leadership and the team’s collective effort securing a crucial win.
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