The game vs Valencia started with a beautiful little ceremony. José Martínez Pirri performed the ceremonial kick-off for the Real Madrid-Valencia on LaLiga matchday 13. The madridista legend, who a few hours earlier had been elected Real Madrid honorary president at the Extraordinary General Assembly, wore our shirt for 16 seasons, from 1964 to 1980. As a madridista he won 15 titles: 1 European Cup, 10 Ligas and 4 Spanish Cups. Pirri is one of the most important players in the history of our club having played 561 matches and scoring 172 goals.
Real Madrid delivered a commanding performance at the Santiago Bernabéu, overwhelming Valencia with their attacking prowess. Carvajal set the tone with a powerful left-footed strike, followed by Vini Jr and Rodrygo each scoring two goals, showcasing their offensive skills. This victory, their tenth in LaLiga and fifth at home, sends Ancelotti's side into the international break on a strong note, further cementing their status as a top contender in the league.
The match began in an ideal fashion for our team, with an early lead established within the first three minutes. The goal originated from a precise long-range pass by Kroos from our half, finding Carvajal. Demonstrating skillful control and evading Gayá, Carvajal executed a superb left-footed curler that found its way past Mamardashvili and into the left corner of the goal. The momentum continued, with Alaba narrowly missing a chance to extend the lead in the 6th minute, his left-footed free-kick just missing the target. Shortly afterwards, in the 8th minute, Kroos almost doubled the lead with a direct free-kick from just outside the box, striking the crossbar, a clear indication of our team's early dominance and attacking intent in the game.
Valencia didn't take long to mount a response, primarily through the efforts of their striker Hugo Duro. He posed a significant threat on two occasions, once in the 10th minute and again in the 15th. Both times, Duro's attempts were thwarted by the imposing presence of goalkeeper Lunin. Initially, Lunin showcased his reflexes with a fine save from Duro's close-range effort. Then, in a crucial one-on-one scenario, he successfully kept out what could have been an equalizing goal for Valencia.
Real Madrid soon reasserted their dominance in the game, largely through the efforts of Vini Jr. He created two notable chances to extend the lead. On his first attempt, he skillfully navigated past Thierry to the by-line and maneuvered around Paulista in the six-yard box, only to be denied by Mamardashvili's save. His second attempt, following a combination with Rodrygo, saw his right-footed shot narrowly missing the goal, hitting the side-netting instead.
The breakthrough came in the 42nd minute when Real Madrid doubled their lead. The goal was a product of Vini Jr.'s skillful play; he expertly chested down a cross from Rodrygo at the far post and converted it into a goal. The first half nearly saw another goal with Rodrygo coming close from a direct free-kick, but his shot missed the target by a mere inches, ending the half with Real Madrid in a comfortable 2-0 lead.
As the second half commenced, our team immediately resumed their offensive showcase, with the Brazilian duo taking center stage. Their impact was immediate and decisive, swiftly escalating the score from 2-0 to an impressive 4-0 in less than two minutes. The 49th minute marked a key moment when Vini Jr. received a pass from Rodrygo in the attacking third. Demonstrating his skill, he navigated to the edge of the penalty area and released a powerful right-footed strike. The shot was too much for Mamardashvili in the Valencia goal, who couldn't prevent it from finding the net.
Soon after, it was Rodrygo's moment to shine. Seizing an opportunity, he intercepted a pass from the Valencia goalkeeper, showcasing his agility and precision. He made his way into the penalty area, skillfully maneuvering before unleashing a right-footed shot that confidently hit the back of the net, further extending the team's lead to 4-0. This rapid succession of goals early in the second half underscored our team's dominant attacking capabilities and the pivotal role of the Brazilian players in driving the team's offensive thrust.
In their relentless pursuit of goals, Real Madrid continued to dominate the game. In a notable attempt in the 77th minute, Lucas Vázquez linked up with Carvajal for a shot that was skillfully saved by Mamardashvili. This effort was a prelude to Rodrygo's well-deserved second goal, as he received a pass from Fran Garcia and cleverly maneuvered past Paulista to score with his left foot. The match's closing moments saw Valencia's Hugo Duro reduce the deficit to 5-1, scoring two minutes from time, but it did little to diminish Real Madrid's commanding performance and substantial lead.
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