Real Madrid beat Valencia to level Liga leaders Barca

Kylian Mbappe scored for the seventh match running as Real Madrid pulled provisionally level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona after a 3-0 win at 10-man Valencia on yesterday.

Reigning champions Barca visit Atletico Madrid, third, on Sunday, aiming to move back clear of the chasing pack.

Jose Mourinho's Madrid largely dominated at Mestalla stadium as they secured an eighth win in a row across all competitions.

Federico Valverde and Arda Guler's first half goals put Madrid in the driving seat and Mbappe added a third in the second half.

"From my experience, this team smells good," Mourinho told reporters.

The Madrid coach said his team did not lose their heads after their last defeat, by Atletico Madrid on 20 September , after which their winning run began.

"We never had chaos, we've been calm, we understand why we lost that game," said Mourinho.

"I always fight for people to be balanced in the good moments, I always tell them that winning games in a team like Real Madrid, you can't be taken up in a whirlwind of joy, winning games at Real Madrid has to be normality."

Los Blancos were without winger Vinicius Junior, who was serving the final game of a four-match ban.

Madrid have thrived in his absence, putting heavy pressure on Barca, whom they beat in the Camp Nou Clasico on October 25.

In the ninth minutes the match stopped for players and fans to pay tribute to Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, who tragically died on Tuesday.

Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a smart save to deny Aaron Mayol, who had picked Aurelien Tchouameni's pocket in a dangerous area.

Valencia's Guido Rodriguez had a goal disallowed for offside before Mourinho's side took control.

Valverde drilled Madrid ahead from outside the area after Mbappe's free-kick was blocked by the Valencia wall and fell to the Uruguayan.

Guler soon doubled the lead, after Jude Bellingham's cross was deflected kindly into his path.