Real Madrid Close Gap on Barcelona with Commanding 2-0 Victory at Mestalla

Real Madrid moved to within one point of LaLiga leaders Barcelona with a commanding 2-0 victory over Valencia at Mestalla Stadium on Monday night. Álvaro Carreras' moment of individual brilliance and Kylian Mbappé's clinical late finish secured all three points for Los Blancos in front of 47,515 spectators, keeping the title race alive with just over a third of the season remaining.

The breakthrough came in the 65th minute when Carreras produced a stunning solo effort that will be replayed for years to come. The Spanish wing-back collected the ball on the left flank, surged past two Valencia defenders with blistering pace, cut into the penalty area, and delivered a perfectly placed low shot into the bottom corner that gave goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili no chance. The goal epitomized Madrid's attacking quality and individual talent that has defined their season.

Valencia, hovering precariously just one point above the relegation zone, fought valiantly to find an equalizer but struggled to create clear-cut chances against Madrid's organized defense. Carlo Ancelotti's side controlled possession and tempo throughout the match, limiting the home side to hopeful long-range efforts and set-piece opportunities that never truly threatened Thibaut Courtois in the Madrid goal.

The victory was sealed in the 90th minute when Brahim Díaz broke free down the left channel and delivered a precise cutback to Mbappé, who made no mistake from close range to cap off an impressive team move. The French superstar's finish was his 19th league goal of the campaign, further justifying Madrid's massive investment in the former Paris Saint-Germain forward last summer.

With this result, Real Madrid now sit just one point behind Barcelona after 23 matchdays, setting up a thrilling run-in for the Spanish title. Valencia, meanwhile, remain in deep trouble near the bottom of the table, with their struggles continuing under pressure as they fight to preserve their top-flight status. The result extends Madrid's unbeaten run to seven matches across all competitions and sends a clear message to Barcelona that the title race is far from over.