Real Madrid made it Eight consecutive wins with a 3-0 victory over Valencia

LaLiga 2026/27  ·  Matchday 12  ·  Estadio de Mestalla, Valencia

Valencia 0 : 3 Real Madrid

Saturday, 7 November 2026  ·  Kick off 9:00 pm CET

Valverde 28' Güler 36' (set up by Bellingham) Mbappé 75' (ast. Güler) Gayà sent off 79'

⚽ Eight wins in a row in all competitions. Real Madrid go into the November international break level on points with Barcelona at the top of LaLiga, a result that puts pressure on the leaders before they visit Atlético Madrid on Sunday. Mbappé has now scored in seven games running.

2–0

Half Time

68%

Possession (RM)

19

Shots (11 on target)

2.20

xG (RM) vs 0.16

26

Valencia fouls

Some wins are about style. This one was about substance, and then style arrived on schedule. Real Madrid walked into one of the most hostile stadiums in Spain, absorbed an opening half hour of fouls and frustration, and then took the game apart with a long range strike from their captain and a volley from their in form playmaker. Eight straight wins, a clean sheet, and a title race that suddenly looks very much alive.

Mourinho had warned that Mestalla would be one of the toughest games of the season, and Valencia played to the script. Javier Aguirre's side defended deep in a 5-3-2 and committed 10 fouls inside the first 30 minutes, finishing with 26 in total, a deliberate effort to stop Madrid finding any rhythm. Madrid lined up in a 4-2-3-1 with Courtois in goal; Valverde at right back, Konaté, Huijsen and Cucurella in defence; Bernardo Silva and Tchouaméni in midfield; Güler, Bellingham and Diomande behind Mbappé. Vinícius Júnior was serving the last game of his domestic ban.

The breakthrough came from a set piece that went wrong, in the best possible way. Mbappé's free kick was blocked by the wall and the rebound fell to Federico Valverde on the edge of the box. After a perfect first touch, the captain drove a low shot into the bottom corner on 28 minutes. Eight minutes later it was two. Bellingham made a galloping run and his cross took a deflection, and Arda Güler volleyed it home on 36 minutes. Valencia had even had a goal ruled out for offside by Guido Rodríguez before Madrid took control.

The second half was a one way street. Madrid had 68% of the ball, 19 shots with 11 on target, six big chances and an expected goals figure of 2.20 against 0.16. Dimitrievski denied Güler, Mbappé and Bellingham, while Courtois made two good saves from the few efforts Valencia managed. Mbappé finally broke through on 75 minutes, taking Güler's pass and going around the goalkeeper for his 13th league goal of the season. José Gayà was sent off four minutes later. Mourinho then emptied the bench: Camavinga, Brahim and Endrick came on at 84' for Bernardo Silva, Diomande and Güler, and Thiago Pitarch and Espí replaced Bellingham and Mbappé at 90'.

Mourinho After The Match

Mourinho spoke to the media at Mestalla despite reporting a fever, and joked about missing an NFL game the next day. He used the platform to push back on the congested fixture list, with a respectful but pointed message to LaLiga. He praised the passion of Mestalla while noting that frustration grows when a team faces a side far superior individually and collectively, said his players were calm and did not respond to provocation, and called the red card situation clear. He also highlighted that he now has the best winning percentage of any coach in LaLiga, and said the team never fell into chaos after the Atlético defeat because the reasons for that loss were understood.

"Winning matches at Real Madrid has to be the norm." José Mourinho, press conference at Mestalla (Real Madrid official)

"I see a happy dressing room, with horrible, loud music." José Mourinho on the mood after the win (Goal)

"this team smells good" José Mourinho on the team's momentum (Yahoo Sports, via AS)

"Mestalla is all about passion." José Mourinho on the atmosphere (Managing Madrid)

Player Ratings

Ratings blend published scores from FotMob (via SI), Managing Madrid, Martin's Real Madrid, The 4th Official, Goal and Sportsdunia with our own read of the match. Formation: 4-2-3-1. Substitutions: Camavinga for Bernardo Silva, Brahim for Diomande and Endrick for Güler at 84'; Thiago Pitarch for Bellingham and Espí for Mbappé at 90'.

🧤 Goalkeeper

7.7

#1

Thibaut Courtois

A quiet night that still demanded sharp work. Valencia managed only two shots on target, and Courtois dealt with both brilliantly, including a good stop from an Arnaut Danjuma attempt. The clean sheet was a team product, but a goalkeeper who stays switched on for 90 minutes with little to do deserves credit.

Managing Madrid: 8.0 · Martin's: 8.0 · FotMob: 7.9 · 4th Official: 7.0 · Our Rating: 7.7

🛡️ Defenders

8.4

#8

Federico Valverde ⚽ 28' Captain at RB

Captain, right back and match opener. His goal was a lesson in finishing: a perfect first touch on the rebound, then a low driven shot into the bottom corner. Sixteen of his 26 career LaLiga goals now come from outside the box. He was also defensively stout, and almost all of Valencia's attacks came down the opposite flank. Goal gave him a 9, FotMob an 8.2. A captain who leads by example and by goals.

Goal: 9.0 · Managing Madrid: 8.5 · Martin's: 8.5 · FotMob: 8.2 · 4th Official: 8.0 · Our Rating: 8.4

8.0

#16

Ibrahima Konaté

Danjuma gave him some early problems, but Konaté grew into the game and was a dominant presence. He completed 11 of 12 long balls, adding distribution to his defending, and the highlight was a perfectly timed sliding tackle on Umar Sadiq, who would otherwise have been through on goal.

Managing Madrid: 8.5 · FotMob: 7.5 · Our Rating: 8.0

7.8

#4

Dean Huijsen

A wall at the back who also moved Madrid forward. His accurate line breaking passes regularly helped the team progress up the pitch, and Valencia never posed a serious threat against the partnership. He returned to the XI after Madrid's shaky defensive night in Athens, and order was restored.

FotMob: 7.8 · Our Rating: 7.8

8.1

#17

Marc Cucurella

He embraced Valencia's gritty, at times dirty approach and fought fire with fire. Cucurella protected the left flank, helped win possession back repeatedly and was almost flawless in his distribution. A composed performance in a physical match where temperament mattered as much as quality.

FotMob: 8.1 · Our Rating: 8.1

⚽ Midfielders

7.8

#20

Bernardo Silva ↓ 84'

Amid the chaos of the opening exchanges, the game slowed down whenever the ball reached Bernardo. He brought clarity and creativity, and finished with the most chances created of any player on the pitch, four. Replaced by Camavinga at 84 minutes.

Goal: 8.0 · FotMob: 7.6 · Our Rating: 7.8

7.7

#14

Aurélien Tchouaméni

The anchor who gave the creative players their platform. He lacked urgency in possession at times, and one costly turnover nearly turned into the opening goal for Valencia, which kept FotMob's score below the rest. Goal rated him higher, at 8.0.

Goal: 8.0 · FotMob: 7.4 · Our Rating: 7.7

9.0

#15

Arda Güler ⚽ 36' 🅰 75' ↓ 84' Man of the Match

The best player on the pitch by some distance. A volleyed goal, a through ball for Mbappé's third, three key passes and complete control whenever the ball reached his feet. It is his third goal in five matches, and SI summed it up by calling him arguably Madrid's best player this season. His chemistry with Valverde down the right is becoming one of the most reliable partnerships in Mourinho's side.

Managing Madrid: 9.0 · 4th Official: 9.0 · Sportsdunia: 9.0 · FotMob: 8.9 · Our Rating: 9.0

7.8

#5

Jude Bellingham ↓ 90'

Judges split on this one. He was hounded by multiple markers and disappeared at times, which pulled FotMob and Goal down to around 7 to 8. Managing Madrid went all the way to a 9, praising his outstanding runs and relentless counter pressing. His galloping run and deflected cross set up Güler's goal, and his contribution deserved an assist even if the deflection kept it off the stat sheet. He enjoyed more space in the second half.

Managing Madrid: 9.0 · Martin's: 8.0 · FotMob: 7.9 · 4th Official: 7.5 · Sportsdunia: 7.5 · Goal: 7.0 · Our Rating: 7.8

7.9

#25

Yan Diomande 🟨 80' ↓ 84'

SI called him Madrid's most dangerous player. He pressed and tracked back from the first minute, then probed constantly with six successful dribbles and seven progressive carries. He also refused to be drawn into Valencia's attempts to provoke him through physical challenges, which is a mature trait in a young winger. SI argues he should keep his place on the left when Vinícius returns.

Managing Madrid: 8.5 · FotMob: 8.1 · Martin's: 8.0 · 4th Official: 8.0 · Sportsdunia: 7.5 · Goal: 7.0 · Our Rating: 7.9

🔥 Forward

8.3

#10

Kylian Mbappé ⚽ 75' ↓ 90'

His movement was excellent and he made a couple of electrifying runs, though he was not as clinical as usual. After six shots he finally found the net, going around the goalkeeper after Güler's pass for his 13th league goal of the season. He has now scored in seven matches in a row. Managing Madrid and FotMob both rated him 8.5, with others at 8.0.

Managing Madrid: 8.5 · FotMob: 8.5 · 4th Official: 8.0 · Sportsdunia: 8.0 · Our Rating: 8.3

🔄 Substitutes

6.5

#21

Brahim Díaz ↑ 84'

Only about 10 minutes on the pitch, but enough to create one big chance and drift into the pockets between the lines.

Martin's: 7.0 · Sportsdunia: 6.5 · Goal: 6.0 · Our Rating: 6.5

6.0

#6

Eduardo Camavinga ↑ 84'

Replaced Bernardo Silva to help close out the game. A short cameo with Madrid already in control.

Goal: 6.0 · Our Rating: 6.0

6.0

#9

Endrick ↑ 84'

Replaced Güler for the closing stretch. A short appearance without a major moment.

Goal: 6.0 · Our Rating: 6.0

N/R

#27 and #19

Thiago Pitarch and Carlos Espí ↑ 90'

Pitarch replaced Bellingham and Espí replaced Mbappé for the final minutes. Too short for the outlets to publish ratings.

Our Rating: N/R

Unused substitutes were Andriy Lunin and Javi Navarro in goal, plus Carreras, Militão, Rüdiger, Dumfries and Trent Alexander-Arnold. The bigger picture is clear. Real Madrid have won eight in a row, Mourinho calls the dressing room calm and the mood happy, and the team heads into the international break level with Barcelona with the title race wide open. Güler is in the form of his season, Valverde is a goalscoring captain, and Diomande keeps forcing his way into the conversation. Hala Madrid.

Labels:
2026/27 LaLiga Matchday 12 Away Win Player Ratings Real Madrid Valencia Güler Valverde Mbappé Mourinho November

Valencia vs Real Madrid Starting 11: Yan Diomandé Primed for Mestalla Cauldron as Mourinho Faces relenless Away test

Valencia vs Real Madrid: The Starting 11 | LaLiga

Estadio de Mestalla, Valencia | Saturday Night, 7 November 2026 | 21:00 CET

Real Madrid travel south to the notoriously intense, high friction atmosphere of Mestalla tonight carrying an incredible surge of momentum and a deep collective focus to expand their dominance at the summit of Spanish football. Following a highly intensive phase of fixtures across both LaLiga and European stages, José Mourinho’s men have systematically engineered a style that balances absolute defensive resilience with lightning fast vertical transition execution. Sitting firmly in the upper echelons of the points table with 27 points from 11 matches, Los Blancos enter this tough away matchday twelve fixture fully aware that picking up three points on hostile foreign soil is the only acceptable route to keep league leaders Barcelona pinned under suffocating pressure.

However, the historical narrative backdrop of this specific matchday fixture has become heavily spiced by critical availability developments and unexpected roster constraints. While hosting Valencia possess a highly physical, low block defensive structure engineered precisely to choke up creative lanes and hit opponents on rapid vertical counters, Mourinho faces unique administrative and physical selection puzzles within his own camp. Managing player fatigue on the road right after a grueling 3-2 Champions League win over AEK Athens on Wednesday requires elite tactical pragmatism. To ensure your blog readers get the absolute edge on what to expect, we conduct a meticulous evaluation of who is fully eligible, who is safely protected on the bench, and who is completely sidelined for tonight's clash.

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📋 The Eligibility Breakdown: Medical Room and Selection Sheets

The core strength of the squad is heavily tested as Mourinho navigates distinct personnel updates across his defensive and attacking units for this trip to Valencia:

• The Suspended Category: The absolute biggest tactical blemish on the roster is the forced absence of Vinícius Júnior. The Brazilian forward is still suspended for domestic action and will serve the final match of his four game ban tonight, meaning he is completely unavailable to cross the white lines at Mestalla.
• The Sidelined Category: Long term injury updates continue to limit options for Mourinho. Rodrygo remains completely missing from this official traveling squad list as he continues his extensive recovery process following a severe knee injury, alongside Ferland Mendy (hip and thigh problem) and Raúl Asencio (leg injury).
• The Cautious Returns: The absolute biggest boost on the squad sheet is the welcome return of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Arda Güler, who both return to the matchday squad after being completely rested during mid week European duties. Meanwhile, Éder Militão is available on the list but Mourinho has explicitly noted that starting him immediately in a high velocity away league match would be reckless, meaning he is designated to start safely from the bench.

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📋 The Official Squad List | Convocatoria

José Mourinho has confirmed the following twenty three man group for the trip to Valencia tonight:

 

• Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, Mestre
• Defenders: E. Militão, Huijsen, Trent, Konaté, Cucurella, Á. Carreras, Rüdiger, Dumfries
• Midfielders: Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Arda Güler, Bernardo, Thiago
• Forwards: Endrick, Mbappé, C. Espí, Brahim, Yan Diomande

Coach: José Mourinho

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🎙️ Mourinho’s Briefing: "Mestalla Forgives Zero Structural Flaws"

José Mourinho was characteristically blunt and tactically sharp during his pre match address at the Valdebebas press room, laying down an intense psychological blueprint while demanding ultimate focus from his forward lines on this away trip:

"Valencia are a side that loves to compress spatial dimensions in their own half and wait for you to grow complacent with the ball. If you turn possession over carelessly in central channels, especially in a hostile stadium like Mestalla, they strike with immediate verticality. My players understand that tactical patience is our absolute weapon tonight. I do not care about building an empty aesthetic show for the cameras; I care about cold blooded structural control on the road. We will dominate our spatial assignments, lock down their transitional triggers, and punish their low block the exact moment their defensive shape shifts. Roster depth is a luxury, but only if every single eligible player executes their defensive screening assignments to perfection." 

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🧠 The Perfect Starting 11 Matrix | 4-2-3-1

To address the physical conservation of the roster and unleash a highly creative transitional system against a deep block, José Mourinho is predicted to deploy a devastating 4-2-3-1 tactical grid:

 

 

Thibaut Courtois; Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konaté, Antonio Rüdiger, Marc Cucurella; Aurélien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde; Arda Güler, Jude Bellingham, Yan Diomandé; Kylian Mbappé.

• The Lineup Breakdown: Courtois anchors the goal with world class security. With Militão protected on the bench, Konaté and Rüdiger form a towering central defensive wall, flanked by the tireless physical engines of Dumfries at right back and Cucurella at left back. Tchouameni and Valverde form the double pivot to guard the central column, with Bellingham orchestrating centrally, Güler and Diomandé providing width on the left to cover for the suspended Vinícius, and Mbappé leading the attack.
• Key Substitutions: Expected second half changes include Camavinga, Bernardo Silva, Brahim Díaz, and Endrick to maintain high intensity tempo and pressure.

Hala Madrid!

Follow Real Madrid: The Starting 11 for complete predicted lineups and analysis.