Real Madrid left no room for surprises. With a dominant performance and a brilliant display from Kylian Mbappe, the Merengues thrashed Valencia 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu, in a match that consolidated their lead in LaLiga and left their fans dreaming of a perfect season. The Frenchman, who recently won the Golden Boot, scored twice and was the star of a night in which Jude Bellingham and Alvaro Carreras also found the net. Get 20% off UEFA Champions League broadcasts in Spanish on DAZN. The match, corresponding to Matchday 11, was practically decided in the first half. Mbappe opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 19th minute and doubled his tally in the 31st minute after an assist from Arda Guler, who now has six assists for the French star this season. In between, Vinicius Jr. missed a penalty, although the Bernabeu crowd applauded him despite the controversy surrounding his behavior in the Clasico. Bellingham added the third just before halftime, after a solo run down the left flank that left the Valencia defense helpless. In the second half, the pace slowed, but Real Madrid's dominance remained absolute. Alvaro Carreras sealed the rout with an unstoppable left-footed strike in the 82nd minute, confirming a perfect night for Real Madrid.

Mbappe leads, Vinicius seeks redemption, and Madrid thinks about Anfield

The image of Kylian Mbappe lifting the Golden Boot before the start of the match was a prelude to what was to come. With authority, speed, and determination, the French striker demonstrated why he is the team's attacking engine. He has now scored in eight consecutive matches and is consolidating his position as the league's top scorer.

Real Madrid didn't just celebrate the goals. They also breathed a sigh of relief with the return of Thibaut Courtois, who responded confidently to Valencia's only dangerous shot, taken by Almeida. For his part, Vinicius had the opportunity to redeem himself after his outburst in the Clasico, when he reacted angrily after being substituted. Although he missed a penalty,His attitude was different and he received the fans' support. Xabi Alonso, aware of the demanding schedule ahead, took advantage of the comfortable lead to rotate his squad. He rested key players like Tchouameni and Guler, and even gave Endrick his debut, who played his first official minutes with the team. "I needed the right context, without pressure from the result," the coach had said before the match.