Madrid Vs Valencia 4-1: Los Blancos Are Solid At The Top Of The La Liga Standings

Real Madrid (Twitter @realmadrid)

JAKARTA - Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema each scored two goals as Real Madrid beat Valencia 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday morning. Los Blancos are steadily growing at the top of La Liga, eight points clear of their nearest stalker.

Quoted from Antara, Madrid is getting stronger at the top of the standings with 49 points, while Valencia is in 9th position with 28 points.

Real Madrid started the game quickly and aggressively. In the 6th minute, Eder Militao threatened the visitors with a header after receiving a pass from Toni Kroos.

FP: @realmadrid 4-1 @valenciacf⚽ @Benzema 43' (p), 88', @vinijr 52', 61'; Guedes 76'#RealMadridValencia | #Emirates pic.twitter.com/0mmiDiwOE3

— Real Madrid CF (@realmadrid) January 8, 2022

Real Madrid fielded a strong first eleven players which included Benzema, Luka Modric, Thibaut Courtois and Ferland Mendy who returned to the team after missing the Copa del Rey clash against Alcoyano in midweek.

Valencia defended quite solidly in the first half so Real Madrid struggled to create dangerous chances, despite dominating the match.

In the 40th minute, Luka Modric's shot made Cillessen unable to move, but the ball hit the bar.

Two minutes later Madrid received a penalty. The referee pointed to the spot after Mouctar Diakhaby fouled Casemiro.

Benzema, who stepped forward as an executor, did his job well. Cillessen couldn't stop his kick into the top right corner of the goal. The position changed 1-0 to Madrid.

Real Madrid were calmer in the second half and didn't waste too many chances to get the second goal.

In the 52nd minute, Madrid doubled their lead to 2-0. Vinicius worked well with Benzema to get past the Valencia defenders.

The Brazil international then calmly fired low to beat Cillessen and make it 2-0.

Vinicius scored again in the 61st minute after snatching the ball from Asensio's kick which Cillessen denied with his head. The score becomes 3-0.

Three goals down Valencia tried to close the gap and they were awarded a penalty in the 76th minute after Ferland Mendy fouled Marcos de Sousa.

Goncalo Guedes' penalty was parried by Thibaut Courtois, but the ball rebounded back to Guedes who headed it into the net. Real Madrid is still leading 3-1.

Madrid then closed the game with a 4-1 win after Benzema scored his second goal in the 88th minute after receiving Mendy's cross on the left.

Controlling the ball well, the French striker then turned around and fired a low shot that Cillessen couldn't stop. Madrid lead 4-1.

There have been no additional goals since the referee blew the long whistle to mark the end of the match. This victory is a morale boost for Real Madrid players before facing Barcelona in the Super Cup in midweek.

Line-up: Real Madrid (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Lucas Vazquez, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy; Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Luka Modric; Marco Asensio, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior.

Valencia (4-4-2): Jasper Cillessen; Cristiano Piccini, Omar Alderete, Mouctar Diakhaby, Jose Gaya; Yunus Musah, Daniel Wass, Hugo Guillamon, Helder Costa; Maxi Gomez, Goncalo Guedes.