Madrid beats Valencia to move level with Barcelona

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Madrid has 30 points alongside Barca, which leads on goal difference and has a game in hand.

That match is a big one, though as Barcelona visits third-placed Atletico Madrid on Monday (AEDT), with the host two points behind and able to leapfrog both its rivals with a victory.

The win at Valencia was Madrid's eighth straight, another confident, efficient display building on its Clasico victory at Camp Nou two weeks ago.

With Vinicius Junior serving the final match of a four-game ban for pulling an opponent's hair and protesting to the referee, manager Jose Mourinho again deployed Yan Diomande on the left wing alongside Mbappe in attack.

Guler, Jude Bellingham, Bernardo Silva and Aurelien Tchouameni formed the midfield, while captain Valverde, a midfielder by trade, continued at right back.

Madrid's opening goals underlined its threat from different areas, with the Uruguay striking from distance and Guler finding space inside the box.

Valverde broke the deadlock in the 28th minute with a fierce half-volley after Mbappe's shot rebounded off a defender, his low drive flying just inside the left post.

Madrid doubled its advantage eight minutes later when Bellingham's deflected cross found Guler unmarked, the Turkey international finishing first time from close range.

Valencia repeatedly resorted to heavy challenges to halt the visitors, but Madrid added a third in the 75th minute.

Guler turned provider, slipping the ball to Mbappe inside the box, where the France striker rounded the advancing goalkeeper and stroked the ball into the empty net.

Valencia captain Jose Gaya was sent off five minutes later for a fierce tackle on Mbappe, completing a miserable evening for the hosts.

Javier Aguirre's Valencia is now second-bottom on nine points, with only two wins in 12 league matches and none at home this season.