Competition: La Liga | Date: Saturday, 1 November 2025 | Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
Kylian Mbappé struck twice while Jude Bellingham and Álvaro Carreras also scored as Real Madrid cruised to a 4–0 win over Valencia, delivering a composed, high-control performance that underlined their title credentials.
MADRID — Real Madrid managed the game with authority from first whistle to last: secure in build-up, precise between the lines, and ruthless in the penalty area. Valencia’s clearest moments arrived in transition, but they were repeatedly shut down by Madrid’s counter-press and recovery runs. After the opener, the hosts accelerated rather than settled, converting territorial dominance into a statement margin.
Match report
Madrid’s shape functioned as a 4-3-3 morphing into a 3-2-2-3 in possession, with clean rest-defence behind the ball and sharp occupation of the half-spaces. Bellingham orchestrated rhythm in advanced pockets, Mbappé manipulated the last line with diagonal movements, and Carreras gave the left flank thrust and end product. The fourth goal—a thunderbolt from Carreras—put an exclamation point on a complete team display.
Tactical overview
- Structure: One full-back tucked inside to stabilise build-up while the far side provided width; pivots set predictable distances for circulation and pressing restarts.
- Final-third occupation: Bellingham’s timing between lines and Mbappé’s separation runs forced constant recalculations for Valencia’s centre-backs.
- Out of possession: A compact 4-4-2 press—Bellingham stepping beside Mbappé—guided Valencia wide into touchline traps and denied clean counters.
Player ratings (out of 10)
- Thibaut Courtois: 7. Barely had to move all night. Made the saves he needed to make. A calm, routine outing for the Belgian.
- Fede Valverde: 8.5. Locked down the right wing with ease, unleashed a few menacing shots from distance, and capped it off with an assist. Tireless and dominant as ever.
- Éder Militão: 8.5. Impeccable again. Read every defensive play like a script, winning duels and stepping up with authority.
- Dean Huijsen: 7.5. A game-high five clearances and solid defensive positioning. His passing under pressure still needs refining.
- Álvaro Carreras: 9.5. The standout performer. Recorded the most tackles of anyone on the field and sealed the game with one of the goals of the season — a thunderbolt. Electric.
- Aurélien Tchouaméni: 8. Excellent two-way play, breaking up Valencia’s transitions and distributing cleanly. Subbed off at half-time to protect him from a second yellow and to rest his legs.
- Arda Güler: 8. Only played 45 minutes but left his mark, threading two perfect passes to Mbappé — one resulting in an assist. Sharp, elegant, and confident between the lines.
- Jude Bellingham: 9. Controlled the rhythm of play, constantly moved into intelligent pockets, and scored a long-range beauty. Involved in Madrid’s opener and set the tone for dominance.
- Franco Mastantuono: 6.5. A quieter night. Worked hard off the ball but struggled to influence play in advanced areas.
- Vinícius Júnior: 7.5. Dangerous and creative, setting up teammates with clever passes and movements. However, he’ll regret missing a penalty generously handed to him by Mbappé.
- Kylian Mbappé: 9.5. Another brace, another masterclass. His movement, composure, and finishing continue to make the difference week after week.
Substitutes
- Dani Ceballos: 6.5. A bit loose in possession but contributed to Real Madrid’s second-half control.
- Eduardo Camavinga: 7. Helped dictate tempo after coming on. Clean in distribution, progressive in his carries.
- Raúl Asencio: 7.5. Strong defensive cameo, read Valencia’s counters well and held the high line effectively.
- Endrick, Rodrygo: N/A. Not enough time to make an impact — though Endrick did have a couple of moments on the right wing.
Positives
- Cutting edge: Composed finishing in prime zones; Mbappé’s movement repeatedly created high-quality looks.
- Control and spacing: Rehearsed build-up patterns, reliable support distances, and quick counter-press on losses.
- Left-side punch: Carreras supplied width, defensive bite, and a spectacular goal.
- Midfield balance: Tchouaméni’s screening plus Bellingham’s orchestration smoothed all phases.
Areas to improve
- Penalty execution: Vinícius’ miss keeps the scoreline from being even heavier.
- Discipline management: Early yellow forced a cautious half-time change for Tchouaméni.
- Passing under pressure: Occasional loose touches (notably from the left-sided centre-back channel) offered Valencia half-chances.
Verdict
An authoritative home win built on structure, intensity and elite attacking quality. Mbappé’s finishing and Bellingham’s orchestration supplied the edge, while Carreras’ two-way display underlined growing depth at full-back. Performances at this level make 4–0 feel sustainable rather than exceptional.
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