Real Madrid Beat Valencia

With a 2-0 victory over Valencia on Thursday, Real Madrid cut Barcelona's La Liga advantage to five points, courtesy of sensational goals from Marco Asensio and Vinicius Junior. The two players startled the visitors at the Santiago Bernabeu with a three-minute second-half barrage. Valencia was subsequently reduced to 10 men after Gabriel Paulista made a reckless swing at Vinicius. Madrid dominated the game from start to finish, but an otherwise successful evening was marred when captain Karim Benzema left the game in the second half with what appeared to be a thigh injury, and Eder Militao was also substituted for the exact cause.

Benzema's injury was "quite mild," according to Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti, but Militao will miss the team's trip to play Real Mallorca on Sunday. Vinicius, who scored his 50th goal for Madrid in his 200th appearance at the age of 22, will undoubtedly be remembered for Gabriel's tackle.