Football news - Real Madrid climb table with 2-0 win over Valencia

Real Madrid moved on from their shock defeat to Eibar with a well-earned, if slightly inconsistent, 2-0 win over Valencia, moving them up to fifth in the Liga table.

Santiago Solari was missing a number of key players, with Casemiro and Toni Kroos both absent, but this was, for the most part, an impressive display from the capital club, who are back on the straight and narrow following their humiliation in Basque country last week.

It took the hosts just eight minutes to take the lead, with Daniel Wass comically heading into his own net as he attempted to defend a Dani Carvajal cross into the box. From that point on, Real Madrid dominated the first half, but couldn’t add to their goal tally before the break.

Valencia looked rejuvenated by the break and emerged for the second half with vigour. They could, and perhaps should, have equalised through one of either Santi Mina or Gabriel Paulista, who were presented with golden opportunities.

But Lucas Vazquez made sure of the points late on, finishing into a gaping net after good work from Carvajal and Karim Benzema. The result sees Real Madrid close the gap on La Liga pace-setters Sevilla to just three points.

The Real Madrid manager’s hand was forced by injuries, but it’s possible that he might just have stumbled across his team’s midfield formula of the future. Dani Ceballos, Marcos Llorente and Luka Modric all complimented each other well, with Real Madrid suffocating Valencia in the middle of the pitch with their high press in the first half. Casemiro and Kroos might have watched this with some concern.

There are those who believe Julen Lopetegui would still be in a job had Carvajal not got injured. On the basis of this performance, it’s hard to argue with them. The full-back gives Real Madrid a totally different dimension. He turns them into a completely different team, giving them forward momentum and defensive solidity at the same time. The second goal highlighted all that is so brilliant about Carvajal.

Real Madrid: Courtois 7, Carvajal 9, Varane 7, Ramos 7, Reguilon 6, Modric 6, Llorente 7, Ceballos 8, Vazquez 6, Benzema 7, Bale 6. Subs - Isco 5, Valverde 6, Asensio 6.

Valencia: Neto 6, Wass 4, Garay 8, Gabriel 5, Gaya 5, Soler 6, Coquelin 5, Parejo 7, Guedes 5, Gameiro 5, Mina 7. Subs - Kondogbia 6, Piccini 6, Batshuayi 5.

8’ GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Valencia: Real Madrid have taken an early lead and it's an own goal! Carvajal showed good tenacity to get the ball to the byline and cut back a pass. Wass stooped to make the header., but got his angles all wrong and heads into his own net.

30’ Big save! Bale creates the space for a shot at the near post. It was a powerful effort from the Welsh winger, but Neto got a strong hand up to make the save. That could have been 2-0.

54’ Mina was through! What a chance that was for Valencia to equalise! The pass from Parejo over the top was fantastic, as was the touch from Mina, but one-on-one who sends his shot over.

67’ Gabriel should score! That was another big chance for Valencia to level things. A freekick was glanced to the back post where Gabriel was on hand. His volley flashes wide.

76’ Asensio should score! That was an opportunity for Real Madrid to put some daylight between themselves and Valencia. Llorente put it on a plate for him, but Asensio fires straight at a defender when he had the whole goal to aim for.

79’ Batshuayi was clean through! The Belgian wriggles his way through the Real Madrid defence, but is stopped by Courtois, who makes a huge save. The flag was up for offside, but the replays show it would have stood.

83’ GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Valencia: That will surely be it for Real Madrid. Carvajal drove his team up the pitch, playing a cross into the middle. The ball is recycled by Benzema, who plays it square for Vazquez to finish into the net with the inside of his left foot. That's game over.