Mbappe double helps Madrid tighten grip on top spot
Kylian Mbappe netted twice as Real Madrid eased to a 4-0 victory over struggling Valencia, with Jude Bellingham and Alvaro Carreras also scoring to help the LaLiga leader tighten its grip on top spot.
The victory extended Madrid's commanding lead at the top of the standings to 30 points, putting it seven points clear of second-placed Villarreal and eight ahead of third-placed Barcelona, which is level with Atletico Madrid on 22 points but has a game in hand.
Victory also saw Xabi Alonso's side claim a 13th win from 14 matches in all competitions this season, and Mbappe was again the star.
The France international gave the home side a two-goal lead with goals in the 19th and 31st minutes, first converting a penalty that was awarded for a handball by Cesar Tarrega and then firing home a volley 12 minutes later from close range.
He might have scored a hat-trick befopre half-time but decided to hand penalty duties to Vinicius Junior on 43 minutes when Los Blancos were awarded another spot-kick.
And perhaps Mbappe should have taken it as Valencia keeper Julen Agirrezabala made an easy save from the Brazilian, who has had a tough week dealing with the aftermath of his Clasico tantrum.
But the miss mattered little as Bellingham struck a niute later with a sublime low shot from the edge of the box that curled into the bottom corner to make it 3-0, before Carreras unleashed an unstoppable angled shot in the 82nd to wrap up the thrashing with arguably the best goal of the night.
