KYLIAN MBAPPé SPARKS MADNESS, BELLINGHAM FOLLOWS AS MADRID THRASH VALENCIA
Real Madrid crushes Valencia 4-0 with a first-half masterclass. Kylian Mbappe's brace and goals from Jude Bellingham and Álvaro Carreras extend their La Liga lead to seven points in a dominant display.
Kylian Mbappe scoring twice, Real Madrid cruised to a 4-0 win over Valencia - Photo Credit: Oscar DEL POZO / AFP
With a 4-0 victory over Valencia, Real Madrid increased its lead over Villarreal at the top to seven points. Jude Bellingham's goal and Kylian Mbappe's brace were among the three goals in the first half. Late in the game, Álvaro Carreras scored the game's fourth goal.
With Valencia doing nothing going forward and wanting to simply go without seeming foolish, that allowed Alonso to rest players in the second half.
Real Madrid ruthlessly defeats the struggling Valencia team.
Valencia arrived to play defence and attempt to intercept the host team's counterattack. But after 19 minutes, that play was stopped. In the most recent match versus Barcelona, VAR was a huge subject and this time it worked in Real Madrid's advantage.
Referee Mateo Busquets had the option of awarding a penalty for any one of three fouls when he was sent over to the screen. When the cross was delivered, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham were being held by defenders due and a handball. After missing in the El Clásico, Mbappe made a flawless save from the penalty spot, and he did win it for the handball.
Valencia had no attacking intent for the first thirty minutes, and Los Blancos had a chance to seal the three points in the thirty-first minute. Arada Guler brilliantly picked out Mbappe, who volleyed home once more. The forward players enjoyed their time on the field as Bellingham played through the Turk.
Alvaro Carreras was taken down in the box five minutes before halftime, giving the home team another opportunity from the penalty spot. This time, goalie Julen Agirrezabala made a fantastic stop from Guler on the rebound, and Vinicius Jr. went up and had his spot kick saved. But a few seconds later, Bellingham scored with a strong shot from the area's edge, making it 3-0.
Due to the score, Xabi Alonso was able to rest his players, substituting Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos for Arda Guler and Aurélien Tchouaméni.
Real Madrid's urgency was not as high as it was in the first forty-five minutes of the second half, and the game slowed down considerably in the early going. With a snapshot that stung the Valencia goalkeeper's gloves, Mbappe scored for his hat-trick, showing no signs of slowing down.
The home team saved the best goal for last because they were not finished. In the 81st minute, left-back Álvaro Carreras hammered a shot into the top corner. The Spaniard opened his account for the team with a fantastic shot that was just inside the box and from an angle.
ENZO MARESCA LAVISHES PRAISE ON REECE JAMES FOLLOWING STELLAR MIDFIELD SHOWING
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca praised captain Reece James after his dominant midfield display in the 1-0 derby win over Tottenham. James provided crucial physicality alongside Moises Caicedo.
Manager Maresca Applauds Reece James - Photo Credit: Getty Images
After playing a crucial part in our derby triumph away at Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea captain Reece James was showered with praise from Enzo Maresca.
Throughout Maresca's tenure as Blues head coach, our captain has switched between his established position at right-back and a new midfield one. On Saturday, he played in the latter at Tottenham.
With yet another outstanding display, Moises Caicedo stole the show and set up Joao Pedro to score the game's lone goal after winning possession. But perhaps even more crucial to the win was his midfield partner for the day.
Our head coach noted that James' presence there was considered vital since Caicedo and James controlled the centre of the field, even though Spurs tried to crowd out the midfield by giving them a numerical advantage there with their team selection.
It somewhat relies on the strategy. Maresca said, "I believe we needed a little bit more physicality in the centre yesterday."
It was anticipated that they would play alongside [Pape Mater] Sarr, [Rodrigo] Bentancur, and [Joao] Palhinha. They had four midfielders, which surprised us because [Lucas] Bergvall also played.
"There should have been a little more physicality in the middle, but it really relies on the strategy."
James did not appear out of place in our midfield once more. Maresca is now in the fortunate position of knowing that he can count on his captain to give his best effort as a midfielder, defender, and—possibly most importantly—a leader.
Enzo continued, "I think Reece is doing wonderful when he is playing as a midfielder, he is doing fantastic when he is playing full-back, and as far as leadership with the players inside the changing room goes."
REAL MADRID STAR ÁLVARO CARRERAS CELEBRATES EMOTIONAL FIRST CAREER GOAL
Real Madrid crushes Valencia 4-0 with Álvaro Carreras scoring a stunning first goal for the club. The victory extends their La Liga lead to seven points under manager Xabi Alonso.
Álvaro Carreras scored his first goal for Real Madrid - IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire
Real Madrid easily defeated Valencia in another La Liga victory under Xabi Alonso. Kylian Mbappe scored two goals in the league leaders' 4-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The third and fourth goals were the two best of the match. Jude Bellingham started the first half with a strong drive from the area's boundary. But the Englishman's goal was overtaken by left-back Álvaro Carreras, who hit a fantastic shot from a sharp angle into the top corner.
After joining the team this past summer from Benfica, it was the Spaniard's first goal. Carreras discussed the strike after the game, suggesting it might be the first of many to come.
Proud of His First Goal in a Real Madrid Shirt, Álvaro Carreras
The 22-year-old has been playing at his peak lately and was one of four players that Xabi Alonso brought in this summer. Although ecstatic about his goal, Carreras never felt pressured to score since he knew that his main responsibilities were elsewhere.
It concluded Real Madrid's outstanding performance, in which they dominated a weak Valencia team from beginning to end. With a victory over Elche, rivals Barcelona may reduce their lead to five points. The victory increased their lead at the top to seven points over Villarreal and eight over Barcelona.
Carreras would have been pleased with another clean sheet for himself and his Los Blancos defence, so the goal was a bonus. They now lead the league with five in 11 games. At the end of the season, he and his defenders will be evaluated based on that.
This defence will be put to the test once more when they play Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League. Even though the Premier League winners are not playing at their best, Carreras and his players will have to contend with the intense atmosphere on the pitch.