Real began their match on the evening of 8/2 without Vinicius and Rodrygo. Vinicius was unavailable due to a one-match suspension after accumulating five yellow cards. Rodrygo was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Coach Alvaro Arbeloa adjusted the team's formation from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 to manage the personnel changes. Kylian Mbappe and Goncalo Garcia led the attack. In midfield, Arda Guler, Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Eduardo Camavinga formed a diamond. On defense, 21-year-old right-back David Jimenez made his start, while Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander Arnold were on the bench.

Mbappe's early shot during the Valencia 0-2 Real match in La Liga round 23 on the evening of 8/2. *Photo: EFE*

Real's start with the new formation was not strong. In the first half, they struggled to develop attacking plays, managing only two chances, both denied by Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski. Valencia, while creating no opportunities, played aggressively and maintained tight control of the midfield.

The two teams remained deadlocked after halftime. In the 65th minute, Real found a fortunate breakthrough with the opening goal. Alvaro Carreras surged into the penalty area, collected a rebound, and struck the ball with his right foot into Valencia's net.

The Spanish left-back recorded his second La Liga goal since joining Real in the summer of 2025. Both of his goals have come against Valencia. He secured a 4-0 victory in the first leg on 1/11.

Carreras celebrates his opening goal in the Valencia 0-2 Real match during La Liga round 23 on the evening of 8/2. *Photo: AS*

Valencia supporters expressed disappointment following the opening goal. In the subsequent minutes, they repeatedly called for coach Carlos Corberan's resignation. Valencia currently sits 17th among 20 teams, with 23 points from 23 rounds, placing them just one point above the three teams in the relegation zone. 18th-placed Rayo Vallecano has a game in hand.

Valencia's late attacking efforts proved fruitless. Instead, they conceded another goal in the 90+1 minute. Brahim Diaz delivered a low pass for Mbappe to tap in, securing Real's 2-0 victory.

The victory against Valencia marked Real's seventh consecutive win in La Liga. They now hold 57 points after 23 rounds, narrowing the gap with Barca to one point. On the evening of 7/2, Barca had defeated Mallorca 3-0, intensifying the pressure on coach Arbeloa's squad.

Thanh Quy