Real Madrid moved to within three points of the top of La Liga courtesy of a 2-0 win over Valencia at the Bernabeu on Saturday night.
Los Blancos have jumped one position into fifth, and are now just three points off division leaders Sevilla despite already suffering five league defeats this term.
The defeat was just Valencia's third in the league this season, but Los Che have now only won three of their 14 top-flight matches this term, which sees them stay in 13th position.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the La Liga clash between Real Madrid and Valencia from the Bernabeu. Real Madrid are currently sixth in La Liga, six points off division leaders Sevilla. Santiago Solari's side were beaten 3-0 by Eibar in the league last weekend, but will fancy their chances of returning to winning ways against a Valencia side that currently sit 13th after a disappointing start. Stay tuned for live updates from Madrid!
Real Madrid recorded a 4-1 win over Valencia when they travelled to the Mestalla in January, but the points were shared in a 2-2 draw at the Bernabeu last season. Valencia have not actually won a league match away to Real Madrid since a 3-2 success in 2008 though.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from the Bernabeu. Both of these teams were in Champions League action during the week...
TEAMS!
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Reguilon; Modric, Ceballos, Llorente; Lucas, Benzema, Bale
VALENCIA: Neto; Wass, Garay, Paulista, Gaya; Soler, Coquelin, Parejo, Guedes; Gameiro, Mina
Real Madrid's team shows two changes from the one that started against Roma during the week. Sergio Reguilon returns from injury to replace Marcelo at left-back, while Dani Ceballos comes in for Toni Kroos in the middle of midfield. Lucas Vazquez keeps his spot in the final third of the field, with Marco Asensio, Isco and Mariano Diaz all on the bench for the home side.
As for Valencia, head coach Marcelino has made two changes to the team that started their 1-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League during the week. Carlos Soler comes in for Geoffrey Kondogbia in midfield, while Kevin Gameiro replaces Rodrigo Moreno in the front two. Francis Coquelin, Daniel Wass and Dani Parejo all keep their spots for Los Che at the Bernabeu.
So there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now 45 minutes away from kickoff in Madrid. I shall speak about the away side a little bit later, but let's start with Los Blancos.
As mentioned, Real Madrid will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 win over Roma in the Champions League during the week. The result saw Los Blancos secure first position in their section, and it was an impressive performance from Santiago's team. That said, the Spanish outfit were again suspect in a defensive area, which has been a problem throughout the season.
Real Madrid were well beaten in the league last weekend though, suffering a 3-0 loss at Eibar. The capital giants have now lost five of their 13 top-flight fixtures this season, but are incredibly just six points off the top of the table. Indeed, it is quite staggering to think that a win for Real Madrid tonight moves them to within three points of current leaders Sevilla.
Won six, drawn two and lost five - that is how Real Madrid have performed in the league this season. They have only scored 20 times and conceded 19, which is a poor record. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona have been shipping goals for fun during the 2018-19 campaign.
Karim Benzema is Real Madrid's leading scorer in the league this season with five goals, but Gareth Bale only has three strikes to his name. Goals have been an issue, and that is not too much of a surprise when considering that they lost a certain Cristiano Ronaldo during the summer.
In terms of what is ahead for Real Madrid, the European champions are back in Copa del Rey action against Melilla on Thursday, holding a 4-0 lead from the first leg of that clash. They will then visit Huesca in La Liga next weekend, before finishing their Champions League group campaign at home to CSKA Moscow on December 12. As mentioned, top spot has already been secured.
Real Madrid's final La Liga match of the year is at home to Rayo Vallecano on December 15. There is then the small matter of the Club World Cup, which has become a very regular competition for the club in recent years. Can they win the competition once again?
Real Madrid will be hoping for some of this tonight...
Valencia, meanwhile, have had a 2018-19 season to date. Marcelino's team have only lost two of their 13 league matches, but have incredibly drawn eight times and won just three. A total of 17 points has left them in 12th position in the table, but three points here would be huge.
Indeed, a win for Valencia would move them level on points with Real Madrid. Los Che have the joint-best defensive record with Atletico Madrid at this stage of the 2018-19 La Liga campaign, but have incredibly scored just 11 times, which is the joint-worst offensive record.
Valencia finished fourth in the top flight last season, just three points off third-placed Real Madrid. To be honest, Los Che could still easily finish in the top four this season as it is so incredibly open. It is perhaps the most competitive La Liga for the last five or 10 years.
Valencia's poor goal record this season is a surprise when considering the talent that they can call upon in the final third of the field. The former Spanish champions have been very, very good at the back though, and Real Madrid have a job on their hands to register tonight.
Valencia are next in action against Ebro in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday, before hosting Sevilla in the league next weekend. Marcelino's team will then welcome Manchester United in the Champions League. Including tonight, it is a huge three games for the former Spanish champions.
That said, Valencia will finish third in their Champions League group. Indeed, their defeat to Juventus during the week, coupled with Man United's win over Young Boys, means that Los Che cannot make the next round of the Champions League. It was always going to be tough.
A reminder of the two teams for this match...
REAL: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Reguilon; Modric, Ceballos, Llorente; Lucas, Benzema, Bale
VALENCIA: Neto; Wass, Garay, Paulista, Gaya; Soler, Coquelin, Parejo, Guedes; Gameiro, Mina
Here we go then; both sets of players have joined us on the pitch ahead of kickoff at the Bernabeu. It is Real Madrid versus Valencia in Spain's top flight. Stay tuned for the action!
KICKOFF: Valencia kick things off at the Bernabeu...
... there were whistles for Bale ahead of kickoff here. The Welshman could really, really do with a goal tonight, although he did register against Roma in the Champions League last week.
Real Madrid have been in control of the possession in the early moments, with Valencia more than happy to sit deep. Los Che will be defensively sound and difficult to beat tonight.
CLOSE! Benzema just misses the post with a volley from a Bale cross!
Gaya breaks down the left to meet a long-range pass, but Carvajal catches the Valencia defender. Guedes then drives down the same side, only to be crowded out in the middle.
YELLOW CARD! Gabriel (Valencia) is booked for a foul on Benzema.
Real Madrid are the team in control of the possession at the moment, with Ceballos and Modric seeing plenty of the ball. Ceballos is actually very advanced in the early stages.
GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-0 VALENCIA (WASS OG)
Oh no! Own goal! Real Madrid take the lead in the eighth minute of this match as Daniel Wass heads a Carvajal cross into the back of his own net! Disaster for the number 18!
Valencia just need to be careful that Real Madrid do not score a second during this period, with the home side enjoying a lot of the ball. The supporters are very vocal at the moment.
YELLOW CARD! Soler (Valencia) is booked for a foul on Reguilon.
Valencia are a bit all over the place at the moment as late challenges continue to arrive. The last thing that the away side need is to go down to 10 men at the Bernabeu tonight.
Bit of possession for Valencia in the last couple of minutes, but they have not really threatened to get their name on the scoresheet thus far. As mentioned, goals have been an issue this term.
SAVE! Neto is on hand to keep out a strike from Bale.
Ceballos has been very lively for Real Madrid in the first 17 minutes of this match, with the midfielder not giving Valencia a second to settle. The home side have been good tonight.
Mina, Gameiro, Soler and Guedes are all forward when Valencia have the ball. As a result, there are, and have been, plenty of counter-attacking opportunities for Real Madrid tonight.
YELLOW CARD! Gaya (Valencia) is booked for a foul on Lucas.
Bale delivers a long throw into the Valencia box, but Neto is on hand to clear. The away side attempt to break, but the ball is worked back to Los Blancos goalkeeper Courtois.
Just a reminder that a win for Real Madrid would move them to within three points of the top of the table, which is incredible when considering their disappointing form this season.
CLOSE! Ceballos sends an effort wide of the Valencia post.
SHOT! Gameiro strikes over the Real Madrid crossbar from outside the box.
SAVE! Bale sees his close-range strike saved by Neto!
SAVE! Bale sees his close-range strike kept out by Neto!
Just a few signs that Valencia are getting to grips with the match as they enjoy possession in Real Madrid's half of the field. That said, the home side continue to threaten here.
Another corner comes into the Valencia box, and the away side clear their lines.
Little over 10 minutes of the second period remaining, and it has turned into a very good game, with both teams committing players forward. The next goal is massive here.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last few minutes, with both teams sharing possession of the ball. Valencia's football into midfield has been good in the last couple.
CLOSE! Benzema misses the crossbar from just outside the Valencia box.
Bale zips a cross straight over the heads of everyone and out for a goal-kick.
Little under five minutes of the first period remaining, and Wass's own goal still separates the two teams. Benzema has probably been the pick of the home side's players here.
Benzema collects a loose ball from a Varane header, but the offside flag is raised.
Real Madrid break through Lucas, but the attack eventually comes to an end down the right. Quite a scrappy game at the moment with neither teams fashioning any opportunities.
HALF TIME: REAL MADRID 1-0 VALENCIA
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Real Madrid leading 1-0 courtesy of an own goal from Wass in the eighth minute. The home side have had chances to add to the scoring, but just the one goal separates the two teams at the interval.
STATISTICS! Real Madrid had 65% of the ball in the first period, while they had six attempts, two of which were on target. Valencia, meanwhile, had one attempt on target from three shots. Three yellow cards to report - Gabriel, Soler and Gaya all for the visitors to the Bernabeu.
BENCH WATCH! Valencia have a number of attacking options on their bench tonight, with the likes of Batshuayi, Kondogbia and Latorre in reserve. Real Madrid, meanwhile, have the likes of Mariano, Isco and Asensio on their bench. Will there be any alterations at the interval?
KICKOFF: Real Madrid resume the action here...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as play develops in the capital.
Early pressure from Real Madrid at the start of the second period, and you do get the feeling that the next goal - if there indeed is one - would be absolutely huge here.
Mina breaks into a dangerous position before driving a low cross towards Gameiro, but the striker cannot make contact. Real Madrid will build from the back once again here.
Again a cross is delivered towards Gameiro, but Courtois is on hand to make the claim. Valencia are seeing more of the ball at the moment though as they commit men forward.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Valencia to level as Mina breaks into the Real Madrid box, but the striker fires his effort over the crossbar. Really should have levelled the scores there!
CLOSE! Modric fires over the Valencia crossbar from just outside the box.
Little over 30 minutes of football remaining at the Bernabeu, and just the one goal separates the two teams. Both managers will have alterations in mind at this stage of the match.
Just a reminder that a win for Real Madrid would see them move to within three points of the top of the table, which would be incredible when considering their struggles this season.
Real Madrid are preparing to make their first chance as Asensio gets himself ready here.
Excellent goalkeeping from Courtois to deny Mina, but the flag had been raised.
REAL MADRID SUB! Asensio replaces Bale for the home team.
Valencia are also preparing to make some changes here.
VALENCIA SUBS! Piccini and Kondogbia replace Wass and Coquelin.
VALENCIA SUB! Batshuayi replaces Gameiro for Valencia.
SHOT! Asensio has a goal-bound strike blocked by Garay!
Lucas pokes a low attempt wide of the post as Real Madrid threaten a second here.
Valencia have started to win a number of free kicks in the last few minutes, and they do have some big players who could cause Real Madrid's back four a lot of problems in the air.
SAVE! Stunning save from Courtois to keep out a close-range Batshuayi attempt!
Real Madrid make a meal of a chance inside the Valencia box, and eventually the away side can clear their lines. Kondogbia did well to nip ahead of Carvajal there.
REAL MADRID SUB! Isco replaces Ceballos for the home side.
GOAL! REAL MADRID 2-0 VALENCIA (LUCAS)
Real Madrid double their advantage in the 83rd minute as Lucas Vazquez turns a low Benzema pass into the back of the net! That should be game, set and match.
Valencia are having plenty of the ball, but they cannot fashion a chance here.
Tonight has been good for Real Madrid. Valencia were always going to be tough to beat despite their poor form this season, and this is a huge three points for Solari's team.
We are about to enter the first of three additional minutes of added time here.
Real Madrid should be able to keep a welcome clean sheet in this match.
FULL TIME: REAL MADRID 2-0 VALENCIA
So there we have it. Real Madrid pick up all three points courtesy of a 2-0 win over Valencia at the Bernabeu. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again!
