Mbappé and Carreras Fire Real Madrid to Crucial 2-0 Victory at Mestalla in La Liga Title Chase

Real Madrid continued their perfect La Liga record in 2026 with a 2-0 victory over Valencia at the Mestalla on February 8, narrowing the gap on league leaders Barcelona to just one point. Álvaro Carreras broke the deadlock in the 65th minute with a brilliant individual effort, while Kylian Mbappé sealed the victory in stoppage time to keep Los Blancos' title hopes firmly alive.

The first half proved frustrating for Carlo Ancelotti's side, who dominated possession but struggled to translate their territorial advantage into clear-cut chances. Mbappé and Gonzalo García were partnered in attack, yet neither could make a significant impact during the opening 45 minutes. The best opportunity of the half fell to right-back David Jiménez, making his La Liga debut, though his effort failed to trouble Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. Despite their control, Real Madrid went into the break locked at 0-0, searching for inspiration.

The breakthrough finally arrived 20 minutes into the second half through an unlikely source. Carreras, operating from left-back, collected the ball near the halfway line and embarked on a mesmerizing run through the Valencia defense. The 21-year-old skipped past two defenders with elegant footwork before unleashing a precise strike at the goalkeeper's near post that found the bottom corner. The goal sparked the Mestalla into stunned silence and gave Real Madrid the crucial lead they had been searching for throughout the match.

Valencia nearly responded immediately, as Filip Ugrínić came agonizingly close to an equalizer minutes after Madrid's opener. The Swiss midfielder's powerful effort crashed off the post with Di Gregorio beaten, but the ball ricocheted away from danger. Real Madrid survived the scare and managed the remainder of the match with their characteristic composure, though Valencia continued to press for a leveler that would have earned them a valuable point against the title challengers.

The insurance goal arrived deep into stoppage time when Brahim Díaz, who had been introduced as a substitute, squared the ball across the six-yard box for Mbappé to tap home his first La Liga goal in three matches. The French superstar's clinical finish at the death ensured Real Madrid would leave Valencia with all three points and maintain their relentless pursuit of Barcelona at the summit of Spanish football.

With this victory, Real Madrid extended their unbeaten run in all competitions and demonstrated the resilience that has defined their season. The result keeps them within touching distance of Barcelona with crucial fixtures on the horizon, while Valencia's struggles continue as they remain mired in mid-table mediocrity. Ancelotti will be pleased with his team's patience and ability to grind out results even when not at their scintillating best, qualities that often separate champions from contenders in the final stretch of a title race.