Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Real Madrid defeated Valencia comfortably at Santiago Bernabeu to take a seven-point lead in La Liga.
After Mbappe’s double inside 31 minutes, Vinicius Jr. had a penalty saved by Valencia goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala, then Jude Bellingham’s magnificent curling strike put the hosts ahead before halftime.
Alvaro Carreras then sealed Real’s fourth consecutive victory in the Spanish top flight with a magnificent left-footed strike into the top corner from a tight angle.
Vinicius Jr. was bound to get a lot of attention in this match after loudly expressing his displeasure with being substituted during last week’s El Clasico, charging past Xabi Alonso and straight down the tunnel.
Mbappe and Bellingham, who both scored in last Sunday’s win over Barcelona, started alongside the Brazilian winger.
Mbappe broke the deadlock again in the 19th minute, scoring from the penalty spot after Franco Mastantuono’s corner hit Valencia center-back Cesar Tarrega’s arm.
England midfielder Bellingham then freed Arda Guler on the left, who crossed for Mbappe to volley home his second.
When Thierry Correia fouled Carreras, the visitors conceded another penalty, but Agirrezabala comfortably saved Vinicius’ spot kick down the middle.
Real’s third goal came a minute later, when Bellingham found space on the edge of the box and fired into the bottom corner past a diving Agirrezabala to cap off a frantic first half.
The second session, however, was far less thrilling. Real had only one chance on goal before left-back Carreras secured the victory in the 82nd minute with a sensational strike to give the club its tenth win in eleven games.
Villarreal are second in La Liga after a 4-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano earlier in the day, but Barcelona can move five points behind the leaders if they defeat eighth-placed Elche on Sunday.
Liverpool will face Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, November 4 (20:00 GMT) at Anfield, followed by a La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, November 9 (15:15 GMT).
