Too hot to handle for Los Che, the defending champions erupt to second in the standings after a third successive league victory.
Real Madrid recorded a confident 2-0 win over Valencia at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.
The visitors, who looked comfortable pretty much the entire time in the match, took the lead early on at the 12-minute mark. Karim Benzema continued his red-hot scoring streak, beating the goalkeeper from 20 yards out with a low shot.
Toni Kroos, who set Benzema up for the opener, got on the scoresheet half an hour later, passing the ball into the right bottom corner of the net.
Dani Carvajal’s injury proved to be a dismal event in an otherwise wonderful evening for Zinedine Zidane. The right-back was back in action for the first time since January 2 but could last for only 28 minutes after suffering what appeared to be a thigh injury.
Real Madrid move up to second in the La Liga standings, five points behind leaders Atletico Madrid. Valencia, on the other hand, remain in 12th place.
Player Ratings
Real Madrid: Courtois – 6, Carvajal – 5, Varane – 7, Nacho – 7, Mendy – 7.5, Modric – 7.5, Casemiro – 7, Kroos – 9, Asensio – 6.5, Benzema – 8, Vinicius – 6.5, Vazquez – 8, Arribas – 6, Mariano – N/A, Isco – N/A,
Valencia: Domenech – 6.5, Correia – 5.5, Paulista – 7, Ferreira – 5, Gaya – 6, Wass – 5.5, Racic – 6.5, Soler – 6, Guedes – 5.5, Gomez – 6, Vallejo – 4, Musah – 5, Gameiro – 5.5, Oliva – 6, Kang-in – 5.5
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