VALENCIA: Real Madrid stayed within one point of La Liga leaders Barcelona with a 2-0 win at Valencia on Sunday as second-half goals by Alvaro Carreras and Kylian Mbappe settled a largely uneventful contest.

Real dominated possession but found chances hard to come by, with Valencia keeper Stole Dimitrievski rarely called into action as the visitors struggled to turn control into threat.

It took them until the 65th minute to break the deadlock through Carreras before Mbappe wrapped up the points in stoppage time.

Barcelona lead the table on 58 points, with Real second on 57. Valencia are 17th, a point above the drop zone.

Mbappe offered the main outlet with sporadic runs down the left but clear openings were limited.

Real coach Alvaro Arbeloa was forced to improvise, missing suspended winger Vinicius Jr and injured trio Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo and Eder Militao.

The absences opened the door for academy players Raul Asensio, David Jimenez and Gonzalo Garcia to start, with Mbappe providing the lone spark for an uninspiring Real side.

“Playing at Valencia is always like going to the dentist,” Arbeloa told reporters. “We knew how difficult the match would be, how demanding they would be. It was a very serious and committed match. I’m happy.”

Arbeloa further added that Mbappe is the best player in the world at the moment, and reiterated that the Frenchman could live up to his boyhood idol Cristiano Ronaldo’s legacy at Madrid.

Valencia’s fans, some of whom had waved white handkerchieves during the match in protest at the club’s situation, headed for the exits with Los Che 17th, one point above the drop zone.

Earlier, Atletico Madrid slipped further adrift in the title race after a 1-0 home loss to Real Betis.

Antony struck in the 28th minute with a fierce effort from the edge of the box, earning Manuel Pellegrini’s side a valuable win Atletico are a distant third in the table on 45 points, three points ahead of fourth-placed Villarreal, who have two games in hand. Betis sit fifth on 38 points.

Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao beat Levante 4-2, Sevilla and Girona shared a 1-1 draw, and Getafe won 2-0 at Deportivo Alaves.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2026