Real Madrid v Valencia as it happened: European champions labour to win
Re-live the action from the Santiago Bernabeu
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Your support makes all the difference.Real Madrid produced another unconvincing display on Saturday but rode their luck to earn a 2-0 win at home to Valencia which allowed them to climb to fifth in the La Liga standings and soothe their recent troubles.
The European champions, who were humbled 3-0 by Eibar last week, took a fortuitous lead when Valencia midfielder Daniel Wass nodded a Dani Carvajal cross into his own net in the eighth minute after former Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista had failed to clear the danger.
The visitors, knocked out of the Champions League in mid-week, let Madrid off the hook on three occasions in the second half when Santi Mina and Paulista failed to hit the target with glorious chances from inside the area.
Valencia's Michy Batshuayi was then denied by his fellow Belgian and former Chelsea team mate Thibaut Courtois in the Real goal and moments later, down the other end, Lucas Vazquez sealed a barely deserved yet vital win in the 83rd minute, completing a quick-fire counterattack spearheaded by the tireless Carvajal. Re-live the action below:
Isco, who wasn't in the match-day squad in Rome, is on the bench today for Real Madrid, but there's plenty of rumours swirling about his future.
A win here for Real Madrid would take them up to 23 points, and potentially into fourth place level on points with Alaves.
SECOND-HALF: Real Madrid 1-0 Valencia
The players are out and we're back underway. No changes by either side at the break. Away we go.
49 minutes
Santi Mina does well to get a low cross in across the box, but Gameiro isn't on the same wavelength. Already better from Valencia.
51 minutes
Gameiro again can't quite get on the end of a threatening cross into the Real box.
53 minutes
Massive chance for Valencia and Santi Mina!
A ball over the top finds Mina who times his run perfectly, and after controlling well, he shoots over with only Courtois to beat. Best Valencia opportunity so far.
54 minutes
Benzema beats his marker at the back post, but heads wide as he looked to catch Neto out at his near post.
55 minutes
Luka Modric has a speculative shot, but it was always rising and is well clear of Neto's goal.
61 minutes
Valencia have been the better team so far in the second half, and if Santi Mina had been more clinical they would be level. They're retaining possession very well.
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