Player Ratings from Los Blancos’ Chaotic Late Comeback Victory

Even a missed penalty and a red card couldn’t stop Real Madrid from defeating Valencia and going top of La Liga.

Real Madrid finished 2024 on a high and looked to carry their momentum into the new year. Except the visitors looked sluggish early in the game and conceded the game’s opening goal in the 27th minute. Hugo Duro was in the right place at the right time and scored a rebound from an initial Thibaut Courtois save.

Ancelotti’s men could have equalized from the spot in the 55th minute after Kylian Mbappé was brought down inside the box, but Jude Bellingham’s effort hit the post. Mbappé then thought he had found the opening for Real Madrid, but his goal was disallowed after VAR confirmed it was offside.

Things went from bad to worse when Vinícius Júnior was sent off in the 79th minute. The Brazilian pushed goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski to the ground and received a straight red card. Down to 10 men, Luka Modrić finally scored the breakthrough goal for Real Madrid. Just 10 minutes later, Bellingham scored the winner to send Los Blancos home with all three points.

Real Madrid are now top of the La Liga standings, two points ahead of Atlético Madrid.

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*Ratings provided by FotMob*

Players

Ratings

GC: Stole Dimitrievski

5.7/10

RB: Dimitri Foulquier

6.6/10

CB: Christian Mosquera

6/10

CB: Cesar Tarrega

5.7/10

LB: Yarek Gasiorowski

6.7/10

RM: Diego Lopez

6.9/10

CM: Javi Guerra

6.5/10

CM: Enzo Barrenechea

6.7/10

LM: Luis Rioja

7.3/10

ST: André Almeida

6.3/10

ST: Hugo Duro

7.1/10

SUB: Sergi Canos (67′ for López)

5.7/10

SUB: Hugo Guillamón (67′ for Guerra)

5.2/10

SUB: Dani Gómez (88′ for Almeida)

REACH

SUB: Jesús Vázquez (88′ for Gąsiorowski)

REACH

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

Players

Ratings

GK: Thibaut Courtois

6.3/10

RB: Lucas Vázquez

7.3/10

CB: Aurélien Tchouaméni

7.6/10

CB: Antonio Rudiger

7.3/10

LB: Ferland Mendy

7/10

DM: Dani Ceballos

7.5/10

DM: Fat Valverde

7.2/10

RW: Rodrygo

6.9/10

IS: Jude Bellingham

8.6/10

LW: Vinicius Junior

6.3/10

ST: Kylian Mbappé

7.1/10

SUB: Brahim Díaz (68′ for Rodrygo)

6.6/10

SUB: Eduardo Camavinga (68′ for Mendy)

6.8/10

SUB: Luka Modrić (80′ for Ceballos)

7.6/10

SUB: Raúl Asencio (97′ for Bellingham)

REACH

Player of the match: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)

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