MADRID (AP) — In a captivating display of resilience, Jude Bellingham not only recovered from a missed penalty but also scored a decisive goal in the dying seconds as ten-man Real Madrid orchestrated a remarkable turnaround against Valencia , securing a 2-1 victory on Friday.
With Luka Modrić equalizing in the 85th minute, Bellingham’s injury-time shot helped Real avoid back-to-back La Liga defeats for the first time since 2019, a crucial feat that propelled them to 43 points, two ahead of city rivals Atlético, despite having played a game more.
The encounter at the Mestalla showed a clash of extremes, with Valencia trailing in the bottom half of the table and emerging as the unexpected leaders by opening the scoring in the 27th minute. Hugo Duro was there to push the ball into an empty goal after it bounced off the post.
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As the second half unfolded, Madrid began to find their rhythm, but the frustration was palpable. Kylian Mbappé won a penalty after 55 minutes, but Bellingham’s next effort hit the post. The situation deteriorated further for the visitors when Mbappé’s goal was ruled out after a video review.
In a dramatic turnaround with 11 minutes remaining, Vinicius Jr. received a red card after a lengthy video review for a push on goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski, leaving Real in a precarious position.
However, Real Madrid’s indomitable spirit shone through, thanks in part to the tactical genius of Carlo Ancelotti. Modrić came on in the 80th minute and immediately made an impact, weaving his way through a crowd of defenders to score a well-deserved equalizer.
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Even reduced to ten men, Madrid’s hunger for victory was palpable, and in the final moments of the match, Bellingham made up for their earlier mistake. Valencia’s Hugo Guillamón slipped, giving Bellingham a golden opportunity, and the young England star calmly placed the ball in the back of the net to secure the points.
However, the drama didn’t end there. Valencia were desperate to get a share of the spoils, and Luis Roja nearly equalized with the last kick of the match, only having his long-range shot hit the post, sealing Valencia’s fate as they remained locked in the relegation zone.
In other notable events, fourth division side Pontevedra surprised La Liga side Mallorca with a crushing 3-0 victory, advancing to the last 16 of the Copa del Rey. Dalisson de Almeida opened the scoring with a spectacular strike from almost 40 yards, followed by a Yelko Pino volley, before Rufo added a third goal.
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Additionally, top-tier clubs Rayo Vallecano and Getafe also progressed, with Getafe needing extra time to overcome second division Granada, thanks to a late goal from Borja Mayoral, while Rayo Vallecano saw off Racing Ferrol without worry.
