LaLiga: Bellingham Seals Dramatic Win for 10-Man Real Madrid

Real Madrid came from behind to beat Valencia 2-1, despite being reduced to 10 men after Vinicius Jr's red card.

Jude Bellingham transformed from villain to hero as Real Madrid staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Valencia 2-1 at the Estadio Mestalla. Bellingham's redemption came after he missed a penalty, but he made amends with a late winner, sealing a crucial victory for Los Blancos.

The match marked Carlos Corberan's debut as Valencia manager, following the departure of club legend Rubén Baraja during the winter break. Corberan's first game in charge couldn't have been more daunting, as his side faced a Real Madrid team determined to reclaim top spot in the LaLiga table. Despite a spirited effort, Valencia ultimately succumbed to a late surge from Los Blancos, who provisionally took the lead in the standings.

Real Madrid carried their momentum from the end of the first half into the second, and were soon presented with a golden opportunity to equalize. Kylian Mbappe was brought down in the box by Tarrega, and Jude Bellingham stepped up to take the resulting penalty. However, after a stuttering run-up, Bellingham's effort struck the post, denying Real Madrid the chance to level the score.

Despite the setback, Real Madrid continued to press, and thought they had finally found the breakthrough on the hour mark. Kylian Mbappe showcased his incredible skill, beating Stole Dimitrievski with a dazzling display of close control before slamming the ball into an empty net. However, the goal was ultimately disallowed due to Mbappe being offside in the build-up. The hosts' goal remained under intense pressure, with Rodrygo the next Real Madrid player to come close, his header flashing narrowly over the bar.

The match got off to a lively start, with Federico Valverde being denied by Valencia's defense within the first five minutes. However, the hosts quickly gained momentum, unleashing a flurry of swift and precise attacks that left Real Madrid struggling to keep up.

Valencia's strike duo, Hugo Duro and Andre Almeida, both came close to scoring, only to be thwarted by the impressive goalkeeping of Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian shot-stopper also denied Dimitri Foulquier, but his resistance was eventually broken when Duro capitalized on a rebound from Javi Guerra's initial effort, which Courtois had saved. This marked Duro's third consecutive goal in head-to-head matches against Real Madrid.

Despite taking the lead, Valencia knew they couldn't afford to be complacent, given that 10 of the previous 11 meetings between the two teams at the Mestalla had seen both sides score. This realization was reinforced by a late surge from Real Madrid before halftime, although neither Valverde nor Vinicius Junior could find a way past Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.

Valencia's chances of securing a vital victory were given a significant boost when Vinicius Jr. was sent off after a VAR review. The Real Madrid forward was dismissed for a petulant push to the back of Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski's head in an off-the-ball incident. Despite being reduced to 10 men, Real Madrid refused to give up, and their determination paid off as they managed to salvage a late equalizer.

The equalizing goal came courtesy of the veteran midfielder Luka Modric, who capitalized on Jude Bellingham's precise through ball to slot home his first club goal since February. With momentum now on their side, Real Madrid continued to press, and their efforts were rewarded when Hugo Guillamon's under-hit backpass was seized upon by Bellingham. The English midfielder curled the ball home, securing a dramatic late victory for Real Madrid.

The win marked Real Madrid's third victory in 11 visits to the Mestalla and propelled them to the top of the table, at least temporarily. The victory also extended Real Madrid's unbeaten run across all competitions to six matches. In contrast, Valencia's late collapse left them languishing in the relegation zone, four points adrift of safety. Despite their disappointment, Valencia came agonizingly close to rescuing a point in the 100th minute, but Luis Rioja's curled effort struck the woodwork, leaving the hosts to rue their missed opportunity.