Real Madrid vs. Valencia – Football Match Report – February 2, 2023

Marco Asensio and Vinicius Junior scored second-half targets to earn Real Madrid a stable 2-0 win over struggling Valencia on Thursday because the guests completed the match with 10 males.

Valencia defender Gabriel Paulista was proven a straight crimson 18 minutes from time for chopping down Vinicius with a wild deal with that just about began a brawl amongst gamers on the pitch.

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The LaLiga champions climbed to 45 factors in second place within the standings, 5 behind leaders Barcelona. Valencia, who fired supervisor Gennaro Gattuso on Wednesday, are on a 5-recreation winless streak and are 14th on 20 factors, one away from the relegation zone.

Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was pleased with the clear sheet and stated he is seen enchancment within the workforce’s defence as they attempt to shut the hole to leaders Barcelona.

“We’ve now kept three clean sheets in a row. But I’d have preferred to concede the other day and win [against Real Sociedad], the most important thing is always the three points,” Courtois stated.

“Defensively we’ve improved, in Bilbao and against La Real. Today they didn’t have many chances. We did well. In the first half we didn’t score but we did in the second, and with the sending off the last 15 minutes were easier.”

Real, bidding to retain the title, are beneath strain from their arch-rivals Barca who’re unbeaten of their final 14 matches in all competitions and on a 4-recreation successful streak in LaLiga.

They had been the higher facet for big components of the sport and managed the tempo on a cold night time in Madrid, nevertheless it took them some time to seek out their mojo in entrance of objective, with Vinicius and Karim Benzema losing good alternatives within the first half.

Antonio Rudiger had a objective dominated out by VAR for a Benzema foul within the construct-up simply earlier than half-time.

Real got here out sturdy after the break and struck twice in two minutes, a powerful curling shot into the highest nook by Asensio after 52 minutes adopted by Vinicius slotting house from shut-vary to complete off a lightning fast counter-assault.

The win got here at a value to Carlo Ancelotti’s facet, although, as each Eder Militao and Benzema had been pressured off with obvious accidents and had been fortunate that Vinicius was in a position to stroll away from the wild problem by Paulista.

“I don’t know [about the red card], but we have to protect Vini. He’s very expressive on the pitch, he takes players on and defenders don’t like that,” Courtois stated. “It’s typical. It’s his technique, his way of playing, we need this Vinicius to open up defences.

“I feel he is been kicked lots and at present I’m glad {that a} referee has been courageous sufficient to ship him off, the ball had gone, it made no sense. That needs to be a sending off.”

Real Madrid play Mallorca in LaLiga on Sunday and travel to Morocco on Monday for the FIFA Club World Cup.

“This is what occurs once you play each three days,” Ancelotti said of the injuries. “Militao is out for Sunday, however Benzema [injury] seems to be to be minor.”