Valencia 4 - 1 Real Madrid: results, summary and goals
Valencia 4-1 Real Madrid: how it happened
Valencia overcome Madrid in batty Mestalla affair
Valencia forward Carlos Soler scored a hat-trick of penalties as his side beat LaLiga champions Real Madrid 4-1 at home in an extraordinary match on Sunday.
Karim Benzema put Madrid ahead with a scorching strike from outside the area but Valencia replied with Soler's penalties and a bizarre own goal from Raphael Varane, inflicting a second defeat on Madrid this season and their heaviest league defeat since losing 5-1 to Barcelona in October 2018. Madrid are fourth in the standings on 16 points after eight games, while Real Sociedad are top with 20 after nine games.
Valencia meanwhile recorded their third win of a tumultuous campaign on and off the pitch to climb up to ninth. Real's preparations for the trip to Mestalla, where they had only won one of their previous six visits, were disrupted by Casemiro and Eden Hazard testing positive for covid-19 the day before, while they lost Benzema to a muscle injury late on. Benzema had got Zinedine Zidane's side off to a strong start with his thumping strike from distance in the 23rd minute but Valencia pulled level with the first of Soler's three penalties after a most unusual turn of events. Soler saw his spot-kick saved by Thibaut Courtois and then hit the post on the rebound, while team mate Yunus Musah netted the loose ball, only to see the goal ruled out after a VAR review showed him encroaching in the area. A re-take was ordered and Soler made no mistake at the second attempt. Valencia took the lead before halftime through a freak own goal from Raphael Varane, who unwittingly sent the ball flying over his head and just over the line, the goal being awarded several minutes later following another VAR review.
Valencia's teenage forward Lee Kang-in almost struck a third early in the second period but Courtois turned his shot onto the post. The home side kept up the momentum though and won two further penalties, for a foul by Marcelo on Maxi Gomez then a handball by Sergio Ramos. Soler converted each time, becoming only the third player in the history of La Liga to score three penalties in a single match.
One of Zizou's worst
As Mr Chip reminds us, this result joins the worst of Zidane's reign
0-3 Barcelona (2017), 3-0 PSG (2019), 4-1 Valencia (2020)
And Los Che become just the second side to score four while the French coach has been in charge. The other being Real Sociedad in the 3-4 earlier this year.
Full-time | Soler (pen 35', pen 54', pen 63'), Varane (OG 43'); Benzema 23'
Peep, peep, peeeeeep! The full-time whistle blows and Valencia have a massive three points.
A Modric corner is collected by Domenech and the attack that is then launched is halted by a foul from a rather frustrated Ramos. Valencia in no hurry to take this as the minutes tick away.
Mariano gets away a clean strike on the volley from outside the area. Plenty of power but the ball scream well wide of the left post.
Madrid, to their credit, are still knocking at the door, but it doesn't look like anyone's going to answer.
Six minutes added on
Marcelo carries the ball forward on the left and from deep whips a lovely cross behind the home defence. Just as it looks as though it may reach Jovic coming in at the back, a black-socked leg gets in the way.
Jovic then has another quarter-chance but his reflex effort goes wide.
More stoppages in play, only suiting one side.
Sobrino and Jason ON
Gomez and Musah OFF
Guillamon and Domenech pick up yellows in quick succession. I don't think they'll mind that too much given the situation here.
Isco leaves and on trots Jovic. Can he have an immediate impact?
Corner to Madrid. Modric send it in but a foul from Mariano kills any hope of a chance being created.
There is a sense of acceptance about this result now. That said, a final roll of the dice coming up from Zidane.
Antonio Latorre Grueso comes on for the injured Lee.
Valencia just need to hold out for 10 minutes
Lee is hurt and needs some treatment. Looks like another forced change required.
Valencia change
Cheryshev replaced by Antonio Latorre Grueso
Regarding that last change, it looked as though both departing players could have a problem. Zidane could do without losing either of those two.
Another double change for Madrid
Mariano and Kroos ON
Benzema and Valverde OFF
Very nice one-touch exchanges from numerous Madrid players as they build up through the midfield and into the opposition area.
The move comes to an end with a speculative volley from Valverde at just outside the box which flies above the bar.
Plenty to do here, but it's definitely not over given the hosts' inadequacies
Chance for Lucas Vázquez to get his side back into this.
Played in on the right side of the Valencia area he drives the ball high of the near post. Domenech waves it away.
History made
Possibly not an unsurprising stat from Mr Chip. It's the first time that Madrid have conceded three pens in one game.
Time for ZZ subs
Odegaard and Rodrygo ON
Vinicius and Asensio OFF
Soler (pen 62')
Gooooooooaaaaaaaaaalll! Soler steps up and fires low to the right. Courtois again chooses the correct side but can't get close.
PENALTY TO VALENCIA! It's given (expect that to cause some debate!)
Penalty shout for Valencia! Surely it can't be another
VAR intervenes, suggesting a handball against Sergio Ramos. Let's see...
Madrid pulling the Valencia defence all over the pace here.
Asensio this time gets in behind but strikes low and hard when a more delicate lift looked more appropriate as Domenech came rushing out.
The keeper blocks well.
This game is hotting up nicely as Los Blancos chase their way back into the reckoning.
Valverde nips in and tests Domenech low. Vinicius then has a chance to pull a goal back but strikes hard and way too high.
Soler (pen 54')
Marcelo goes into the book as his desperate challenge in front of goal stops the chance from being taken.
Soler vs Courtois part III...
PENALTY TO VALENCIA!
Corner for Madrid but nothing comes of it. Valencia then break and Gaya dribbles his way passed one, two pink-clad players before striking.
Good save from Courtois.
Good start from the hosts sees a lovely touch from Lee, who then hits cracking effort of the upright. Madrid need to be careful here.
We're back underway. Valencia get us started...
No hawkeye
For those asking, unlike the English Premier League, there is no goalline technology in place at the Mestalla. In fact there are only seven stadiums in LaLiga that have the Hawkeye system installed.
Fortunately for the ref today the replays allowed a decent call to be made on Valencia's second.
For what seemed to be a fairly predictable match, with Real Madrid on top and taking the lead, things somehow turned against them with a couple of strange incidents.
'Stupidly funny' is possibly not a bad way to describe some of that action.
Half-time | Soler (pen 35'), Varane (OG 43'); Benzema 23'
Peeeeeeep! The referee brings an interesting first half to an end.
Modric sneaks in nicely down the right channel but can't get any power behind his effort and Domenech gathers easily.
That should be that...
We're into the final minute of added time and Lee does well to avoid a booking after a potentially dangerous lunge.
Varane (OG)
Gooooaaaaaaaaallll!! It's given!
And it's awarded as a Varane own goal. Incidentally Courtois appears to be ok to continue.
Goooaa.....no!!
Valencia develop the play quickly on the break and appear to have the ball over the line.
After numerous reviews from those in the VAR box, we are still not sure what the decision will be (it did look over). Either way, Varane and Courtois clattered into each other and could be hurt.
Racic first into the book after stopping a Vini run in its tracks. Fair enough from where I'm sitting and not many complaints from the Valencia players.
Valencia appear to have their tails up after that period of tension played out in their favour.
They are having more of the play and look a touch more confident heading forward with tidier passing rather than hitting long. Let's see if they can keep that up.
Gooooaaaaaaaalllllll!!! Soler goes to the left again - this time with more power - and despite Courtois getting a hand on it, he can't stop the goal.
Wait a minute!! It could get sillier.
The referee has ruled out the goal and ordered for the penalty to be retaken. Musah was an inch or so inside the area when Soler struck the original spot kick. Here we go again...
Soler penalty SAVED by Courtois!!!
But the Valencia man has a chance to fire home the block. He HITS THE POST...but the ball rebounds to Musah who scores.
That was CRAZY!!!
PENALTY TO VALENCIA!
Out of very little the hosts have a chance to equalise. Long diagonal is then crossed on the volley and hits Vázquez on the arm.
Valencia need to get some sort of foothold in this game and following hte goal celebrations Cheryshev has a chance to ask a question of the defence.
Courtois is out smartly to smother the low cross.
A much-used route to danger eventually bears fruit.
Marcelo and Vinicius exchange passes with the left-back then sliding it back to the Frenchman who controls and fires home from the edge of the area. A deserved lead for Los Blancos.
Racic spots that Asensio has got the better of him so tugs him back by the shirt. Gil Manzano blows up.
Valencia get a couple of chances to hit on the break but are unable to carve anything meaningful from their possession and the ball is coming back towards their goal.
The first few minutes of this game suggested that both sides were going to be testing each other out equally. Since then it's been all Madrid.
The latest threat saw Marcelo break into the area and switch places briefly with Benzema. An opening goal feels like it's coming.
Again the pink shirts threaten. (This is a good start from Zidane's shuffled pack)
The move ends with a neat save from Domenech low to his right from a Modric strike, although the offside flag was up.
Marcelo this time finds himself inside the opposition area and picks out the French striker again, who brings the ball down on his chest surrounded by defenders and is closed out.
The ball then breaks to Asensio who steps to his left and tries his luck from the edge of the box. His clean hit slides just wide of Domenech's right post.
Valencia under more pressure as Vinicius and Marcelo link up nicely before the latter delivers low in towards the front post and Benzema is muscled out of getting a clean shot away.
It's an end-to-end start to this game with half chances almost falling to each side.
Vinicius gets to the by-line on the left and cuts back a potentially dangerous ball into the area, but there are enough white shirts to protect and clear.
Corner to Valencia after threatening do create something down the left.
It's whipped in by Soler but a big Belgium with gloves on steps forward and claims well.
Valencia's first play is an almost carbon copy of their illustrious guests. A few touches in and around their own box and then a long clearance under pressure to hand the ball back to their opponents.
We'll give both sides a chance to find their feet.
It's the visitors that get us going and immediately work the ball back to Courtois for an early touch.
The group press from Valencia rushes the defence into clearing long and possession is lost.
And we're off!
The players are out of the tunnel and onto the pitch with the usual superstitious gestures completed along the way.
Madrid in that fetching pink strip.
Inside the Mestalla
And here's what things are looking like inside with just a few minutes before the players step out.
The view from outside the stadium ahead of the match.
Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors.
(Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Real Madrid: Hazard, Casemiro test positive for coronavirus
Hazard accepting the situation
"They're okay I think," Zidane said when asked how Casemiro and Hazard were doing after their positive coronavirus tests.
"They're not happy with what's happened but they're okay and physically they don't have many symptoms, but we know it's tough. I left them a message and I'll speak to them later. This can happen and we just have to accept that."
Man with the whistle
In charge of tonight's game is Jesus Gil Manzano. The 36-year old has been officiating in the Spanish top flight since 2012 and has been FIFA listed since 2014.
That experience will count for nothing to fans if he makes a bad call against them!
Bench options
As we've seen, Zidane has made a number of changes to the starting line-up and will be hoping that those chosen can do the business.
It does, however, also leave him with various options for during the game if things don't pan out as expected.
Madrid arrive
The visitors arrive in confident mood ahead of this clash. Anything other than three points will throw more doubt on what has been a shaky start, but one that is slowly starting to take shape.
Real Madrid team news
A bit of shuffling the pack going on for Zizou - some of it forced due to injuries and covid-19 infections - and he has chosen to give Marcelo and Isco a chance to impress him.
Can this yet-to-convince Valencia side provide us with another surprise result against a weakened Madrid?
Valencia team news
As we've seen, the USMNT's Yunus Musah - who is just 17 years of age - has been given another starting place for Valencia.
He has started seven of the last nine and will be hoping he can add to his first league goal from last week.
Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Lucas, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo, Valverde, Modric, Isco, Asensio, Vinicius, Benzema
Valencia XI: Jaume; Wass, Gabriel P, Guillamon, Gaya; Soler, Racic; Musah, Kang In, Cheryshev; Maxi Gomez
Valencia vs Real Madrid: how and where to watch - times, TV, online
Don't miss the action
We're an hour of way from the 21:00 kick off in Spain and as always have provided you with a quick guide to how you can watch the game.
Real Madrid: state of play
Although in 4th position, Los Blancos know they have games in hand over those above them and will be keen not to lose any ground after a mixed start to the season.
The defeat mentioned earlier to Cádiz was a big shock - putting question marks in the head of some over the future of Zidane - but that was followed by a huge win at the Camp Nou, and then a solid victory over Huesca.
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 18 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| 3 | 17 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 4 | 16 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 6 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
Valencia: state of play
Going into this game against the champions, Los Che find themselves in a disappointing 16th place, picking up just two wins so far this season.
Tonight is a chance to get themselves going again.
Valencia vs Real Madrid: live
Hello and welcome to you all as we build up to Sunday's LaLiga Santander fixture from the Mestalla.
Real Madrid travel to face Valencia knowing that a win would be their third on the trot in the league since that surprise defeat at home to Cádiz.