Bellingham, the hero as Real Madrid edge past beleaguered Valencia

A Real Madrid comeback sparked by Luka Modric and completed by Jude Bellingham ruined Carlos Corberan’s first match as Valencia manager, with Los Blancos running out 2-1 winners at Estadio Mestalla to move to the top of the LaLiga table.

With club legend Rubén Baraja replaced at the helm over the winter break, Los Ches began their survival mission with arguably the toughest fixture Corberan could be presented with on his debut.

But still Federico Valverde was denied within five minutes, the hosts steadied themselves, piecing together fast, flowing attacks that a disjointed Real Side can’t live with.

Strike partners Hugo Duro And Andrew Almeida were denied in quick succession by Thibaut CourtoisBefore full-back Dimitri Folquier Also fell victim to the great Belgian among the staff.

Courtois’ one-man defiance would eventually prove insufficient however, as another save Javi GuerraThe first effort, the Los Blancos goalkeeper was beaten by Duro’s rebound. V

Alencia’s talisman has now netted in three successive h2hs, but with 10 of the previous 11 h2hs held on the ground when both sides scored, the hosts knew they could take nothing for granted.

That notion was only reinforced by a late resurgence from Carlo Ancelotti’s men before the break, though neither Valverde nor Vinicius Junior Can break stall Dmitrievskys goal.

Real took the momentum in the second half, and were presented with the opportunity to draw level when Tarrega bundled Kylian Mbappe Over in the box.

Bellingham Taking responsibility from 12 yards, but after a stuttering approach, the Englishman was denied by the post. The visitors had the ball in the net on the hour mark through Mbappe, who showed outrageous close control to round Dimitrievsky and into an empty net, but the goal was eventually ruled out as the France international was offside in the build-up.

The host cell was under siege, with Rodrygo The next real player to go close with a header that flashed over the bar.

ValenciaKling’s hopes of victory were boosted by an act of stupidity from Real’s leading man, as Vinicius Jr was dismissed following a VAR review for a nasty push to the back of Dimitrievsky’s head in an off-the-ball incident.

Undaunted, Ancelotti’s men held their heads to salvage a late point through the evergreen Modric, who pounced on Bellingham’s incisive first-time through ball to block his first club goal since February.

Momentum was with the visitors, and the growing pressure on Los Ches forced Hugo Guillamon In a fatal mistake, as his under-hit backpass was caught and duly curled home by Bellingham.

The late strike sealed just a third win in 11 visits to the Mestalla for Real, who topped the table for the time being after extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to six matches.

Valencia, meanwhile, remain in the drop zone and four points from safety after trailing in the closing stages, even if they come inches away from saving a point when Luis Rioja In the 100th minute, he crashed against the woodwork.