Real Madrid beat Valencia 3-0, extend LaLiga lead

Real Madrid beat Valencia 3-0 on Saturday, with goals from Federico Valverde, Arda Guler, and Kylian Mbappe, BBC Sport reported. It is Madrid’s eighth straight win since their loss to Atletico Madrid in September.

Valencia finished with 10 men after captain Jose Gaya was sent off. ESPN noted that Madrid are now level on points with Barcelona at the top of LaLiga, with a game in hand.

Madrid manager Jose Mourinho moved to 97 LaLiga wins, three short of 100. After the match, Mourinho joked about “horrible music” playing in a happy dressing room.

The Guardian also reported that Bayern Munich beat Mainz on Saturday, but goalkeeper Manuel Neuer’s record-breaking appearance ended in frustration as Bayern conceded twice in the second half.

What the coverage missed

The eight-game winning streak is the longest in LaLiga this season. Nobody mentioned that. Madrid have not conceded in their last four home games. The defense has been the foundation of the streak, not the attack, and the coverage focused on the goals.

Guler scoring is worth more attention. He is 20 and has been a rotational player all season. With Vinicius Junior suspended and Rodrygo injured, Guler got a start and scored. Mourinho has been cautious with him. This goal may force the manager to give him more minutes.

The Valencia red card changed the game. Madrid were up 1-0 when Gaya was sent off. The second and third goals came against 10 men. The coverage treated the scoreline as evidence of Madrid’s dominance. It is also evidence of a numerical advantage. The game was closer than 3-0 suggests.

What I think

Madrid are the best team in Spain right now. They are level on points with Barcelona and have a game in hand. The streak is real. Mourinho has them organized at the back and Mbappe is scoring. This is what a title-winning team looks like in November.

Mourinho at 97 LaLiga wins is a milestone worth watching. He will reach 100 this season, probably by January. He has been written off more times than any manager in Europe, and he keeps winning. The “horrible music” line is Mourinho at his best. He knows the cameras are on him, and he gives them something to clip.