Real Madrid ease past uninspiring Valencia to keep title chances alive

Atletico are still looking like title favourites, but their city rivals Real Madrid won’t let Cholo Simeone and his red and whites run away with the trophy. Zinedine Zidane’s men produced a confident display and left Valencia no chance at their temporary home ground of Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.

In the end, current La Liga title holders put the foot off the gas pedal and the visitors could count themselves lucky to have escaped with only a 2-0 reverse. They posed little threat going forward so Zidane could indulge in sending a few youngsters on in the second half with Sergio Arribas and Mariano Diaz getting an opportunity to impress. Even the forgotten man Isco came on with ten minutes remaining to record a rare first-team appearance.

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With Real Madrid’s injured skipper Sergio Ramos looking on from the stands, Karim Benzema captained the side and he certainly led by example. He made sure the Blancos got off to a perfect start when he curled a magnificent opener from the edge of the area. His left-footed shot flew beyond Jaume Domenech and into the bottom-left corner of the net. The Frenchman has made a habit out of making life miserable for Valencia, having scored at least once in each of the last five games.

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane will be annoyed at yet another injury to Dani Carvahal, who was forced off before the half hour mark. The Spain international has played only 12 games all season.

Toni Kroos added the second just before the break with a precise low shot following a lovely team move by the home team that all but secured the win.

Second half's only major talking point was a goal by French youngster Ferland Mendy who thought he's made it 3-0 to the home team, only to have his goal chalked off by VAR due to him being offside in the build-up.

LA LIGA 23rd round

Friday

Celta Vigo - Elche 3-1 (2-0)

/Santi Mina 45, 68, Brais Mendez 45+2 - Rigoni 50/

Saturday

Granada - Atletico Madrid 1-2 (0-0)

/Herrera 66, Marcos Llorente 63, Correa 75/

Sevilla - Huesca 1-0 (0-0)

/El Haddadi 57/

Eibar - Valladolid 1-1 (1-1)

/Kike 23 – Mesa 7/

Barcelona - Alaves 5-1 (2-0)

/Trincao 29, 74, Messi 45+1, 75, Firpo 80 – Rioja 57/

Sunday

Getafe - Real Sociedad 0-1 (0-1)

/Isak 30/

Real Madrid - Valencia 2-0 (2-0)

/Benzema 12, Kroos 42/

20.30: (2.50) Levante (3.20) Osasuna (2.95)

23.00: (2.00) Villarreal (3.45) Betis (3.80)

Monday

23.00: (3.80) Cadiz CF (3.00) Athletic Bilbao (2.20)

***odds are subject to change