Real Madrid beat Valencia to close gap to Barcelona

Vinicius Jr celebrated his 200th appearance for Real Madrid in style with his side's second goal of the game

Real Madrid beat 10-man Valencia to cut Barcelona's lead at the top of La Liga to five points.

Los Blancos took the lead through a stunning left-footed strike from Marco Asensio in the 52nd minute.

Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr celebrated his 200th Madrid appearance with his side's second goal two minutes later.

Gabriel Paulista was shown a straight red card for the visitors in the 72nd minute as Madrid cruised to victory.

Antonio Rudiger thought he had opened the scoring for the hosts in first-half stoppage time when he headed home from Luka Modric's cross.

However, the goal was ruled out after a VAR intervention for a Karim Benzema foul on Yunus Musah in the box.

Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsReal Madrid

Formation 4-3-3

1Courtois6Nacho3Militão22Rüdiger12Camavinga10Modric8Kroos19Ceballos11Asensio9Benzema20Vinícius Júnior

1Courtois6NachoBooked at 33mins3MilitãoSubstituted forCarvajalat 36'minutes22Rüdiger12Camavinga10ModricSubstituted forValverdeat 66'minutes8KroosSubstituted forTchouaméniat 66'minutes19Ceballos11AsensioBooked at 62mins9BenzemaBooked at 45minsSubstituted forRodrygoat 60'minutes20Vinícius Júnior

Substitutes

2Carvajal5Vallejo7E Hazard13Lunin15Valverde16Odriozola18Tchouaméni21Rodrygo24Mariano26López Andúgar

Valencia

Formation 4-3-3

25Mamardashvili20Foulquier5Gabriel12Diakhaby14Gayà4Musah6Guillamón18Ribeiro Almeida11Castillejo Azuaga7Cavani16Dias Lino

25Mamardashvili20Foulquier5GabrielBooked at 72mins12DiakhabyBooked at 60mins14Gayà4MusahSubstituted forCömertat 75'minutes6Guillamón18Ribeiro AlmeidaSubstituted forKourouma Kouroumaat 70'minutes11Castillejo AzuagaSubstituted forde Sousa Mendonçaat 58'minutes7CavaniSubstituted forPérez Martínezat 75'minutes16Dias LinoSubstituted forLatorreat 70'minutes

Substitutes

1Herrerín3Latorre8Kourouma Kourouma13Rivero15Özkacar19Duro21Vázquez22de Sousa Mendonça24Cömert29Pérez Martínez33Mosquera36Guerra

Referee:Javier Alberola RojasAttendance:51,926Match StatsHome TeamReal MadridAway TeamValenciaPossessionHome71%Away29%ShotsHome19Away4Shots on TargetHome7Away0CornersHome6Away6FoulsHome12Away17Live Text Post update

Match ends, Real Madrid 2, Valencia 0.

90'+3'Full Time

Second Half ends, Real Madrid 2, Valencia 0.

90'+3'Post update

Attempt missed. Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Vinícius Júnior.

90'+2'Post update

Nacho (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

90'+2'Post update

Foul by Ilaix Moriba (Valencia).

90'+2'Post update

Attempt blocked. Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Vinícius Júnior.

90'+1'Post update

Foul by Rodrygo (Real Madrid).

90'+1'Post update

Ilaix Moriba (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90'Post update

Attempt saved. Rodrygo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

90'Post update

Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Giorgi Mamardashvili.

89'Post update

Rodrygo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

89'Post update

Foul by Eray Cömert (Valencia).

89'Post update

Foul by Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid).

89'Post update

Ilaix Moriba (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

87'Post update

Attempt missed. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Dani Ceballos.

86'Post update

Attempt missed. Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Eduardo Camavinga.

86'Post update

Attempt blocked. Nacho (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

84'Post update

Foul by Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid).

84'Post update

Dimitri Foulquier (Valencia) wins a free kick on the right wing.

84'Post update

Attempt blocked. Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Eduardo Camavinga.

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Source: bbc.com