Mbappe Scores Again as Real Madrid Beat 10-Man Valencia 3-0 to Go Level With Barcelona

Kylian Mbappe scored for the seventh match running as Real Madrid moved provisionally level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona after a 3-0 win at 10-man Valencia on Saturday.

Reigning champions Barcelona visit third-placed Atletico Madrid on Sunday, aiming to move back clear of the chasing pack. Jose Mourinho's Madrid largely dominated at the Mestalla to secure their eighth straight win in all competitions.

Federico Valverde and Arda Guler scored in the first half, and Mbappe added a third after the break. Madrid were without winger Vinicius Junior, who was serving the final game of a four-match ban. They have thrived in his absence, putting heavy pressure on Barcelona, whom they beat in the Camp Nou Clasico on October 25.

In the ninth minute, the match was paused for players and fans to pay tribute to Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, who died on Tuesday. Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois then made a smart save to deny Aaron Mayol, who had picked Aurelien Tchouameni's pocket in a dangerous area. Valencia's Guido Rodriguez had a goal disallowed for offside before Madrid took control.

Valverde drilled Madrid ahead from outside the area after Mbappe's free-kick was blocked by the Valencia wall and fell to him. Guler soon doubled the lead after Jude Bellingham's cross was deflected into his path.

Guler had a good chance for a third early in the second half, but Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski grabbed the ball as he tried to round him. Minutes later, Dimitrievski saved well from Mbappe, who had run through and tried to dink the ball over him. Bellingham powered through the defence and was also denied, as was Mbappe with an overhead kick.

Mbappe eventually got the third, darting onto a pass from Guler, going past Dimitrievski and squeezing the ball home for his 13th league goal of the season. It was his 17th goal in 16 games across all competitions, and he has now scored in his last seven appearances for Madrid.

Valencia's Jose Gaya was sent off with around 10 minutes left for a late sliding foul on Mbappe, further spoiling Javier Aguirre's night.

In other matches, new Espanyol coach Eder Sarabia's side were held to a goalless home draw by Deportivo La Coruna, Osasuna snatched a late 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao, and Racing Santander came from behind to beat Malaga 2-1.