Jude Bellingham Scores Late Winner as 10-Man Real Madrid Defeat Valencia

England midfielder Jude Bellingham missed a penalty but redeemed himself with a stunning 95th-minute winner as 10-man Real Madrid secured a dramatic victory against Valencia to move to the top of La Liga.

Real Madrid are aiming to become Spanish champions for a 37th time

Valencia, under new manager Carlos Corberan, who took charge last week, came close to pulling off a memorable win in his first game. However, the match ended in heartbreak for the hosts after a thrilling finale at the Mestalla Stadium.

The home side took the lead in the first half when Hugo Duro capitalized on a rebound, tapping in from close range after Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois failed to hold onto Javi Guerra's powerful shot.

Real Madrid had a golden opportunity to level in the 55th minute after Kylian Mbappe was fouled in the penalty area. However, Bellingham's spot-kick struck the inside of the post and stayed out.

Things went from bad to worse for Carlo Ancelotti's team when Vinicius Jr was shown a red card following a VAR review. The Brazilian was dismissed for pushing Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski in the back of the head during a heated altercation.

Despite the challenges, Real Madrid pushed for a late goal, and it was Bellingham who delivered in the dying moments, sealing a dramatic comeback and three vital points for his team.

Jude Bellingham added a hop to his run-up before taking the penalty, but his effort struck the post and bounced away.

However, Real Madrid, who had earlier seen a potential equaliser from Kylian Mbappe ruled out for a narrow offside, managed to draw level with just five minutes of normal time remaining. Substitute Luka Modric latched onto a pass from Jude Bellingham and calmly slotted the ball past Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.

Moments later, Bellingham seized on a mistake by Valencia defender Dimitri Foulquier to fire Real into the lead. The drama wasn’t over, as Valencia’s Luis Rioja nearly equalised in the 10th minute of stoppage time, but his powerful shot struck the post.

The win moves Real Madrid two points clear of Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga, although Atletico have a game in hand.

This match was originally scheduled for 2 November but was postponed due to catastrophic flash floods in the region. The torrential rain and severe flooding, which devastated the coastal city in late October, resulted in more than 220 fatalities, making it the deadliest natural disaster in modern Spanish history.

Valencia 1-2 Real Madrid | LaLiga 24/25 Match Highlights