K. Benzema has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by L. Modrić.
Modric sent the corner to the edge of the six-yard box and Benzema was waiting to head it past Neto. Sloppy defending from the hosts late in the game, it must be said.
GOOOOOAAALLL!!! VALENCIA 2-1 MADRID! Has this come a little too late to mean anything? Benzema peels away from Kondogbia and Gaya to guide Modric's corner into the back of the net from five yards.
It could have been a nervy finish for Valencia had that penalty decision stood. The visitors win a corner in the third and final minute of added time, so it is not game over just yet.
90'
SAVE! Neto has a rare save to make as we enter added time. It is a routine save, though, getting down to Benzema's shot from just inside the box.
88'
Casemiro thumps the ball well over the bar, pretty much summing up his side's display in the process.
87'
Each Valencia pass is being greeted with chants of "Ole!" from the home fans. Madrid no longer look interested, knowing that the points are out of their reach.
85'
Santi Mina enters the game and replaces K. Gameiro.
Gameiro is replaced by Mina for the closing stages, eating up some more seconds. The hosts have five minutes of normal time to see through.
83'
E. Garay has scored a goal for Valencia! Assist by Dani Parejo.
GOOOOOAAAAALLLL!!! VALENCIA 2-0 MADRID! Garay's powerful header from a corner kills off the contest as Valencia open up a two-goal lead! The former Madrid defender gets above Casemiro and sends the ball flying past Navas, who can barely react in time.
Parejo, who has been a threat all match, sent in a dangerous corner and Garay did what Mariano and Casemiro could not by getting his head to it.
82'
This latest Valencia counter ends in similar disappointment as Rodrigo's shot is closed down. Madrid may have seen far more of the ball in the second half but the home side have been more dangerous in front of goal and should be out of sight.
80'
Ferran Torres enters the game and replaces Carlos Soler.
Soler is replaced by Torres in the home side's second change of the contest.
RAMOS COMES CLOSE! Ramos meets Isco's cross but cannot find the target with his header. The centre-back has made a habit of scoring late goals for Madrid and that looked to be his big chance.
78'
M. Díaz enters the game and replaces Lucas Vázquez.
Zidane makes his third and final change by bringing on Mariano for Vazquez.
Minute
Description
76'
Marcelo gets yellow.
Marcelo is cautioned for a pretty shocking dive. Good call from the referee.
73'
D. Cheryshev enters the game and replaces Gonçalo Guedes.
World Cup star Cheryshev comes on for Guedes, who has been very good for Valencia today.
Wass and Vazquez tangle in the Valencia box and it is the home player who gets the benefit of the doubt from the referee. It did look to be six of one and half a dozen of the other.
72'
The two Madrid substitutes link well and Bale nearly finds Benzema with one of his trademark outside-of-the-boot crosses. Gaya watches the ball all the way and manages to get his head to it before Benzema can tap in.
71'
Madrid are enjoying a sustained spell of pressure as we enter the final 20 minutes. Parejo gets on the end of the corner but it falls to Marcelo, who once again hammers the ball into the stands. The full-back needs to work on his shooting in training this week.
69'
The ball falls loose for Bale to strike on the edge of the box. Diakhaby and Parejo both dive in to block the shot - superb, bodies-on-the-line defending from the home side. They are going to protect this one-goal lead at all costs.
67'
After a few stoppages in play, Madrid manage to regain some control of the game. Following seven or eight passes, Benzema is unable to find the target or a team-mate at the end of the promising attack.
65'
Dani Parejo gets yellow.
This is a poor call from the referee. Parejo almost appears to pull out of the challenge with Vazquez but his momentum carries him into his opponent, catching Vazquez with his knees. A talking to would have sufficed.
64'
Isco enters the game and replaces T. Kroos.
G. Bale enters the game and replaces Marco Asensio.
Odriozola gets yellow.
Odriozola's cross is poor - again - and he catches the boot of Guedes to prevent the Valencia winger from countering. The referee reaches into his pocket for the second time today.
Zidane has seen enough. The Frenchman makes a double change, bringing on Bale for Asensio in the first of those subs.
On comes Isco for Kroos in the second of those changes. The two players making way can have few complaints.
62'
INCHES WIDE! After some nervy moments at the back, Valencia do what they do best by hitting their opponents on the counter. Rodrigo chases down Parejo's pass over the top, cuts inside a couple of players in the box and bends the ball inches wide of the target.
60'
I'm starting to think that Valencia's decision to give Odriozola so much space down their left is through design. Every cross into the box is being dealt with fairly comfortably. Bale has been sent to warm up by Zidane.
55'
NEARLY! Kondogbia gets his head to to the corner but is unable to keep it on target. That has to go down as another chance for the home team. Madrid really are riding their luck!
52'
Marcelo's cross towards Vazquez at the back post is headed behind by Gaya. Ramos sends Kroos' outswinger back into the middle, where it is once again cleared away. Valencia are defending very well.
50'
Madrid have had 67 per cent of the ball so far but they have managed just two shots on target, neither of those really troubling Neto. Garay is flagged for offside when getting on the end of Diakhaby's pass. Valencia's two centre-backs combining there in Madrid's final third!
48'
Valencia are pressing Madrid when they are on the ball but it is worked across to Odriozola, who is in acres of space down the right. The cross is sent into the box but is cleared away, which has been the case far too often today from the visitors' perspective.
46'
RESTART! Valencia, on course to make it 17 matches without defeat in all competitions, get us back up and running at the Mestalla!
45' +2
HALF-TIME: VALENCIA 1-0 MADRID
45' +1
Valencia hit their opponents on the counter. Wass sends in a teasing cross from the right but Ramos gets his boot to the ball before a player in white.
45'
After looking very shaky in the five minutes after conceding the game's opening goal, Madrid are starting to look a little more settled. The bad news for them, however, is that half-time is now just a couple of minutes away.
43'
WEAK EFFORT! Asensio and Benzema exchange passes in the box and the latter gets a shot away at the end of it. The attempt is weak, though, giving Neto one of the simplest stops he will make all season as the ball trickles to him down the middle.
41'
Marcelo wins the ball back for his side and, after rejecting the chance to slot in one of his team-mates, he blazes it off target from outside the box.
40'
SHOT! It is constant pressure from the home side now. Rodrigo is the latest player to have a go, curling the ball narrowly off target from 22 yards. Madrid are dropping deeper and deeper, giving Valencia's attackers far too much time and space on the ball.
38'
ANOTHER VALENCIA ATTEMPT! Varane half-clears a cross into the box, only getting it as far as Kondogbia 25 yards from goal. The midfielder's shot is not cleanly hit, though, and it flies over the crossbar with Navas watching it all the way.
36'
CLOSE! Valencia are closing in on a second goal here, a minute after opening the scoring. After some patient play, Soler's delivery into the box is sent wide by Gameiro.
35'
Gonçalo Guedes has scored a goal for Valencia! Assist by Carlos Soler.
GOOOOOOOAAALLL!!! VALENCIA 1-0 MADRID! Guedes opens the scoring for Valencia with an impressive finish from just inside the box. Ramos backs off the winger and, with very little backlift, he places the ball into the bottom right of Navas' goal. The Madrid keeper got across but could not keep it out.
Soler exchanged passes with Guedes after Navas punched a cross away and the winger picked his spot. Ramos was not the only Madrid defender guilty of backing off there - poor defending all-round from the visitors.
34'
PENALTY APPEAL! Valencia, like Madrid earlier in the half, have a penalty shout rejected. The hosts claim that a cross into the box hit Ramos on the arm, but even if it did it was tucked into his body - he could do nothing to prevent that from happening.
33'
Asensio wins the ball back and has space to run into, only to opt to go back on himself and play the ball to Modric. About 20 passes later, Modric sends Odriozola away down the right but the cut-back is defended - that appears to be the visitors' best route through on goal, though.
31'
Madrid play some good football but Marcelo cannot quite find a team-mate with his outside-of-the-boot cross. The match has gone a little flat over the last five minutes - neither side are doing enough to warrant a breakthrough goal, in truth.
29'
Valencia are happy to sit back with pretty much every player behind the ball, setting themselves to hit their opponents on the counter. There has not been a great deal between the sides in the opening half an hour at the Mestalla.
27'
It is Guedes' turn to win his side a free-kick. Guedes sends it into the box but Navas races off his line to collect. Prior to that, Wass needed looking at after clashing heads with Casemiro in the box.
24'
Odriozola is having a good game down the right. The full-back brings the ball down and powers past Guedes, who has also impressed, before being dragged down to win his side a free-kick.
22'
WELL GATHERED BY NETO! Madrid test Neto for the first time today, but it is a pretty routine save for the Valencia keeper. Kroos' half-volley from outside the box was on target but lacked the power to beat Neto.
20'
CHANCE FOR VALENCIA! Guedes bursts past his man and plays the ball through the lines. Gameiro slots it into the path of Rodrigo to the right, but his backheeled return pass is aimed straight at Marcelo. Valencia had to be testing Navas at the end of that attack.
18'
Madrid are bossing the ball, but they are not really threatening their opponents with their passing. The ball is worked out to the right and the cross into the middle is headed away by Diakhaby, though only as far as Marcelo. The full-back's volley is well off target.
16'
Navas shows good awareness to gather the ball from Guedes, who was trying to set himself for the shot after bringing it down.
15'
Asensio does well to keep Modric's cross in play, but Valencia clear their lines and look to counter. They do not get very far, though, as Navas gets hold of the ball and clears to Ramos.
14'
Valencia double up on Odriozola so the full-back is forced to go back on himself, before laying it off to Modric. The midfielder's cross towards the back post is overhit.
13'
Zidane has restored his favoured midfield trio of Modric, Casemiro and Kroos today, and this match is largely being played out in the middle of the park so far. Once the visitors go long, they tend to lose hold of the ball.
11'
The hosts are committing plenty of fouls in the opening quarter of the match. Madrid are not really being given a chance to build momentum, though Benzema brings down Wass to even things up a little.
9'
After a sloppy start to the game, Madrid have taken control of things. Zidane's side are knocking the ball around and looking for that killer final pass, which they have so far been unable to find. Marcelo's cross is a good one but none of his team-mates are anywhere near it.
5'
D. Wass gets yellow.
Madrid turn over possession and Asensio is on the charge. Wass clips the feet of his opponent to halt the attack and earn himself an early caution.
4'
Valencia's two most advanced players, Gameiro and Rodrigo, are starting the pressing high up the pitch. The home side are also giving Kroos little time on the ball.
2'
Guedes makes good inroads down the left and Odriozola gets across to concede an early corner, which Madrid successfully defend.
1'
KICK-OFF! Madrid, aiming to close the gap on Barcelona to 10 points, get us underway!
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the LaLiga clash between Valencia and Real Madrid at the Mestalla.
Madrid, despite Huesca's best efforts, made it back-to-back victories under Zinedine Zidane as they just about saw off the division's bottom side 3-2 at the Bernabeu on Sunday. It is now three wins in a row for the visitors when taking their 4-1 victory at Real Valladolid - the final game of Santiago Solari's tenure - into account, but they are still 13 points adrift of top spot with this game in hand on Barcelona to play.
Valencia head into this match sitting seventh in the standings, meanwhile, four points adrift of fourth-place Getafe with this game in hand to play. After claiming a 1-0 win away at Sevilla last time out, climbing back into the top four will now be the target for Marcelino over the remaining six weeks of the season. Taking that Dani Parejo-inspired victory at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan into account, the hosts have gone 16 matches without defeat in all competitions.
VALENCIA (4-4-2): Neto; Daniel Wass, Ezequiel Garay, Mouctar Diakhaby, Jose Gaya; Carlos Soler, Daniel Parejo (c), Geoffrey Kondogbia, Goncalo Guedes; Rodrigo Moreno, Kevin Gameiro.
Valencia subs: Toni Lato, Lee Kang-In, Ferran Torres, Denis Cheryshev, Santi Mina, Facundo Roncaglia, Jaume Domenech.
MADRID (4-3-3): Keylor Navas; Alvaro Odriozola, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos (c), Marcelo; Luka Modric, Casemiro, Toni Kroos; Lucas Vazquez, Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio.
Madrid subs: Isco, Luca Zidane, Dani Ceballos, Mariano, Jesus Vallejo, Gareth Bale, Sergio Reguilon.
The two teams are now out on the field at the Mestalla and we are moments away from kick-off.
Madrid will argue that they had a good penalty shout turned down early on when Ramos was dragged down by Garay. Zidane will not be happy with his side's pretty flat first-half display, though, and there is a chance that we could see a change at the interval. Bale and Isco are among those to have dropped down to the bench today.
Thanks for joining our coverage today. Until next time, goodbye!
Valencia's unbeaten run goes on, now standing at 17 matches since they last tasted defeat. Marcelino's men are up to fifth in the table, a point behind fourth-place Getafe with a trip to Rayo Vallecano to come next weekend. Madrid remain 13 points adrift of league leaders Barcelona, meanwhile, and they must now pick themselves up for the visit of mid-table Eibar on Saturday.
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