Valencia CF v Real Madrid CF - La Liga EA Sports - Source: Getty
Real Madrid came from a goal down and a man down to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in their first game of 2025. The Spanish champions showed their Pedigree against a stubborn Valencia side to take all three points home and move to the top of the LaLiga table.
Valencia opened the scoring in the 27th minute through Hugo Duro after he reacted first to a parried Javier Guerra effort and held their lead into the break. After Kylian Mbappe was brought down in the box by Cesar Tarrega, Los Blancos had the chance to equalize in the 55th minute from the penalty spot but Jude Bellingham missed the spot kick.
Things went from bad to worse in the 80th minute when Vinicius Junior was sent off after a red mist descended on him and he pushed Valencia keeper Stole Dimitrievski. However, following their biggest setback in the game, Real Madrid began their miracle comeback with Luka Modric after Bellingham set him up to equalize in the 85th minute. Bellingham saved the finest salvo for the dying embers of the game after capitalizing on a Hugo Guillamon error to secure all three points in the fifth minute of added time.
