Valencia 1 - 2 Real Madrid summary: score, goals, highlights, LaLiga 2021/22

Here's how the live table looks after the game

Valencia set to lose their unbeaten record as the whistle sounds. Madrid leave it late and go top of the table in a wild end to an intense game at Mestalla.

Courtois gathers and that's the added time expired.... Madrid set to record a hard earned victory in Valencia.

Valencia throwing the kitchen sink as they look for an equalizer... Musah crosses but straight into Courtois' arms

Camavinga carded

Madrid now giving Valencia a taste of their own medicine with no urgency in taking the throw in

Vinicius carded for time wasting

This scoreline will see Madrid top the table alone... Valencia look exhausted now and have been dealt a huge emotional blow with that Benzema goal.

Camavinga on the ground now after a collision. Five minutes of time to be added

He's been quiet all game but when needed the French striker was on hand to nod home the second for Madrid. High octane drama here at Mestalla in the final minutes of the game.

Madrid want more as the men in green attack again and Valencia are somewhat on the ropes.

Fine right footed effort from the Brazilian with a wicked deflection from Foulquier to steer the ball past the Valencia keeper.

Valencia sit deep now with all ten men in white behind the ball. Madrid look to forge openings as Valencia just hack the ball away... Madrid pick it up again and the fans call for the final whistle and we're still in the 86th minute.

I do forsee at least 5-6 minutes of added time too

Bordalas 'shithousery' I believe it's called as Foulquier ambles over to take the throw with no sense of urgency whatsoever.

Lato may just stay down for a minute or two more than he would should his side be traikling ...

Rodrygo collides into Lato and the Brazilian is also carded.

Less than ten left.... Valencia now in no hurry whatsoever to take the dead balls.... Ancelotti getting anxious as the clock ticks down

Valencia too make a series of swaps: Guedes, Duro and Maxi leave the action...Marc Andre, Racic, Costa all on for the three

Isco and Jovic set to come on for Real Madrid. Hazard and Valverde are the players who leave the action

Isco stripped and ready to come on...

Less than 15' remain at Mestalla. Valencia fans celebrating throw ins now as the sense a famous victory is looming closer.

None of this 'no celebrating against former team' stuff in the goal celebration from Hugo Duro. The Valencia man celebrated his strike with great gusto.

Time ticks and still no changes from Bordalas with Guedes  looking very tired.

Madrid upping the intensity with Rodrygo's fresh legs looking to create danger

Madrid dominate now in terms of possession but Valencia lead in the all important scoreboard.

Foulquier goes to ground and this looks more like cramp rather than a muscular issue.

Just over 20 minutes here at Mestalla. As things stand it would be 'Los Che' who top the LaLiga table tonight with a 1-0 scoreline.

Camavinga comes on with Modric retiring from the game. Casemiro makes way for Rodrygo.

Camavinga comes on with Hazard retiring from the game

Mestalla erupts !

Madrid creating more space now and getting shots on target but all straight at Mamardashvili. Hazard appears to be the player set to make way for Camavinga.

Camavinga poised for an entrance.

More space appearing now as legs tire ever so slightly. Both sides have players warming up and only a question of time before we see some more changes.

No let up as Valencia seem to have dropped a gear in terms of tempo as Casemiro flashes a long range shot, but once again, straight at Mamardashvili

Vazquez has a long range pop but the ball is straight at the Valencia keeper. We loom towards the hour mark and still no sign of tiredness on the pitch.

Hazard almost latches on to a long ball but the ball just zips away from the Belgian and the pace continues with intensity as Madrid win a corner. Valencia defending like demons.

Third card of the night and the second for Real Madrid.

Nacho carded for protesting

Duro strikes and the former Castilla man hits the ball straight at the Belgian stopper. Valencia on top now and the fans respond accordingly.

The added layer of intensity and excitement generated by the return of fans in LaLiga (and indeed everywhere) cannot be undersatted.

No sign of tiredness from either team with the game still being played at a frantic pace.

Guedes shapes, shoots and drills the ball over the bar after fine build-up play from the men in white.

Should the game end 0-0 (or indeed in any drawn configuration), Real Madrid would reclaim top spot in LaLiga with 'Los Che' going second.

The start of the half commencing with the same gusto as the first half with Valencia enjoying the bulk of early possession.

The home side set to start the action and we're underway....Valencia break and once again Courtois is on hand to thwart the danger.

Just under 27,000 fans here tonight at Mestalla as the Madrid players are whistled as they return to the pitch.

The sides are in the tunnel and make their way back to the Mestalla pitch.

Will tiredness be a factor for Real Madrid in the second half after their midweek Champions League action with a huge 0-1 win away over Inter at San Siro.

Luka Modric and Dimitri Foulquier in action at Mestalla during the first 45'

An entertaining half at Mestalla and both sides have gone close ... injuries to Soler, Correia (Valencia) and Carvajal (Madrid) have hampered pre-game plans for Bordalas and Ancelotti alike.

Wass and Maxi over the ball ... Just two in the wall.... The ball zips inches wide from the Argentine's boot and the whistle sounds for the break.

Valencia free kick as we enter the 50th minute of the half.

Casemiro carded for a lunge

Final minute of time added on .... A draw probably the fair scoreline as we head towards the interval.

One can see the Bordalas influence with the high tempo intensity and pressing from Valencia. Not an easy team to play against !

Maxi strikes but his effort goes into the second tier.

Corner for Valencia in time added on. Wass to take.....4 minutes of time added on.

Nervous moment for Valencia as Valverde drives the ball across the face of the Valencia goal and the Georgian stopper is called upon to intercept.

Valencia free kick with Wass poised to strike. Gabriel heads and Courtois saves well from the Brazlian. Best chance of the game so far. Great save from the Belgian, reflex stuff from the stopper.

Guedes breaks into the area and Militao does well in impeding the Portuguese player from getting a strike on the ball.

The ref. is coming under major flak here at Mestalla with Valencia fans making their feelings clear about split decisions that they feel are going the way of the men in green.

Gabriel is carded as the Brazilian fouls his compatriot Vini Jr.

Plenty of rushed passes and a high press from both teams is continually seeing possession given away. The game just lacks that little bit of poise as the excitement level is already there.

Benzema has been a virtual spectator tonight and we've yet to see the likes of Vinicius and Hazard get into the swing of the game.

Valencia are getting good value on their right hand side with Guedes and Musah causing problems for Nacho.

Just over ten minutes remain at Mestalla in the first half. It's a frantic and tense affair with both teams enjoying brief spells of domination.

Hugo Duro misses the ball by inches after fine play from Lato and Maxi. The closest the home side have gone to scoring in the 30 plus minutes of action.

Shots on goal: Valencia 1-4 Real Madrid

Valencia appeal for a penalty as Maxi goes to ground in the box after a collision with Alaba. Correct call as the ref. waves the protests away.

The game is being played with a high, high tempo and the fans add to the intensity but neither side has been able to dominate proceedings.

Wass to strike and a poor delivery from the Dane with the ball straight at Courtois.

Nacho and Maxi collide, the fans look for a card as the Valencia player is on the floor. Free-kick and no more for 'Los Che'

Indeed, injuries continue to haunt the Real Madrid No. 2 as Carvajal is replaced by Vazquez.

Lucas Vazquez warming up for Real Madrid now too.... looks like Carvajal is in trouble too.

A run of bad luck injury-wise for Bordalas' men with Soler and Correia joining Gaya in the sick bay with muscular problems.

More bad news for Valencia as Correia goes to ground and looks like the Portuguese player has pulled a muscle and can't carry on. Toni Lato getting ready to replace the right back.

Valencia edging the game in terms of possession but it's Real Madrid who have carved out the better scoring chances. Neither keeper has really been tested yet though.

Valencia fans protesting every decision with jeers and whistles aimed at the ref with each decision they feel doesn't go their way.

Soler cuts a sorry figure on the Valencia bench with the captain head in hands after being forced off so soon in a big game.

A rousing ovation for the No. 10 as he leaves the pitch with Musah his replacement

Nice battle between Correia and Vinicius developing on the near touchline with the defender winning the first round by robbing the Brazilian.

Hazard shoots after a fine turn and there's the confirmation that Soler cannot carry on as the captain goes to ground and will need to be subbed.

Real Madrid go close as Hazard crosses and Giorgi Mamardashvili parrys the ball wide....corner for Madrid

Not great news for Valencia fans as Soler seems to be in trouble .... the captain gestures to the bench that he plans to continue as Musah warms up as a precautionary measure.

Correia tries to work the ball into the box on the Valencia right and the ball is cleared to Vinicius who breaks and loses the ball with a fine interception.

Real Madrid break with intention for the first time tonight and the men in green are now enjoying more time with the ball as Valverde shoots. First danger from the visitors at Mestalla.

Maxi Gomez tangles with Militao and the whistle sounds with the ref claiming that the Argentinean was pulling the defender.

Valencia free-kick but once again Real Madrid are alert to the danger and avert the attack. All of the game being played so far in the Real Madrid half.

Interesting to see zero fans in the sector behind Courtois' goal.... The area of the stadium where the more raucous Valencia fans were normally located

Corner for the home side but a poor delivery as Real Madrid clear their lines.

All set in Mestalla ... the visitors start the action and we're underway

Carlos Soler leads out his Valencia side with a raucous reception from the home fans. Madrid too take to the pitch with white track jackets over their all green kit.

Plenty of noise in Mestalla with the 29,000 fans making plenty of noise pre-kick-off. The teams are in the dressing room as a local brass band serenades the spectators.

Less than ten minutes ahead of kick-off with fans packing into the Mestalla stadium. Real Madrid's new 3rd 'emerald green' getting its first airing in Valencia tonight.

The corresponding fixture in the 2020-21 campaign ended with a resounding win for 'Los Che' at an empty Mestalla with a hat-trick from Carlos Soler.

A reminder of the teams for tonight's game should you be joining us ....

View from the summit:

The winners of tonight's Mestalla clash will top the LaLiga table with Atleti currently in pole position following their 0-0 draw at the Wanda Metropolitano yesterday. There are still 7 teams in LaLiga who remain unbeaten.

Valencia-Real Madrid: match official

Pablo González Fuertes is the man in the middle tonight at Mestalla with the Asturian match official to be assited in the VAR booth by Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva,

Valencia-Real Madrid: weather conditions

It's a balmy September evening in Valencia with a current temperature of 30C/86F and zero precipitation forecast for the LaLiga clash. A muggy one for players and fans alike.

Real Madrid too have responded well with a new coach at the Bernabeu. Despite an indifferent pre-season, Amcelotti's side have stated the campaign in fine fashion with three wins from four in LaLiga and go into tonight's Mestalla clash on the back of a last gasp 0-1 win at San Siro against Inter in the Champions League.

Jose Bordalas has been instrumental in Valencia's turnaround in fortune bringing his gritty style of play to Mestalla. His Getafe side from a few years back were a game away from qualifying for a Champions League place and the Alicante native has hit the ground running with 'Los Che'.

Mestalla really is one of the great stadiums in Spanish football and is ideally located in the centre of town making it user friendly for fans. With the recent renovation, when full, it can be one of the most hostile environments in LaLiga.

Madrid will wear their new green third kit this evening at Mestalla. Valencia will be in ther iconic white shirt, black shorts, white socks combo,

Bad news earlier for Valencia fans was Gayá being ruled out of the game with a hamstring issue.

...and the Valencia XI has just been confirmed

Fans back at Mestalla

As the nation gets to grip with the covid pandemic, following mass vaccine roll-out and falling cases, 29,000 fans will be allowed to attend Mestalla tonight for the visit of Real Madrid which constitutes 60% of the stadium capacity.

VCF-RMCF (preview)

This latest Valencia side from Mestalla, now under the leadership of José Bordalás, ended last season in a very disappointing 13th place but they welcome a Real Madrid side that is far from suggesting themselves as world beaters. Carlo Ancelotti has an amount of talent at his disposal that should be able to challenge for the domestic title this year, mainly due to the overall drop in level in Spain’s elite clubs rather than them being considered a contender for the Champions League.

The Italian will be expected to come away from their latest away trip with all three points, but few would call it a banker.

Both these sides have enjoyed a very decent start to the season, positives and negatives coming from their respective performances, and three wins and a draw have them sitting on the same points, only trailing Atleti at the top. A win would move either side to the summit.

Team news: Real Madrid confirm their starting XI

Both teams come into the game unbeaten this season and trail Atletico Madrid by one point with Cholo Simeone's side being held yesterday at home by a dogged Athletic Club with both Valencia and Real Madrid on ten points.

The action on the Mediterranean coast gets underway at 21:00 CEST/15:00 ET.

Hello and welcome to Mestalla for the big clash of match-day 5 in LaLiga as Valencia face table topping Real Madrid.