Mestalla, a stadium whose passionate supporters continue to give everything for Valencia despite receiving so little in return from owner Peter Lim, said goodbye to Real Madrid with a mixture of sadness and despair.

For years, this ground has been something of a battlefield for Madrid, from the days of Predrag Mijatovic to the present. But this time, perhaps for the last time unless a future Copa del Rey draw brings the teams together again, the home crowd watched helplessly as their biggest rivals controlled the game for 90 minutes without facing meaningful resistance.

Eight wins from eight

There was no need for another Hollywood-style finish like the dramatic nights in Rome or Athens. This time, Madrid took command from the opening whistle, scored relatively early, controlled possession and refused to be rattled by the crowd’s pressure. The fans, after all, are the only innocent party in Valencia’s ongoing crisis. The result gave José Mourinho’s team its eighth consecutive victory.

Suddenly, everything seems to be clicking for Madrid. Arda Güler and Jude Bellingham are no longer competing for the same space; they have become partners, combining technical elegance with an increasingly effective understanding of the team’s collective game. Both are also contributing goals. Diomande has the dribbling ability of a peak Vinícius Júnior, but without the same tendency toward frustration. Federico Valverde is leading the team from an unfamiliar position at fullback, which makes his contribution all the more impressive. And Aurélien Tchouaméni continues to excel when asked to focus on the things he does best.

Valencia, by contrast, look like a team staring into the abyss. Unaccustomed to life in the relegation zone, they are struggling under the weight of their predicament and the limitations of a squad that simply lacks the quality to compete consistently. They have been reduced to relying on aggression, sometimes misguided, and were no match for a Madrid side that will be able to watch Atlético Madrid and Barcelona face off from the comfort of its couch, knowing it has already taken care of business.

Mourinho appears to have settled on his preferred Madrid lineup, at least for the biggest occasions, and he clearly considered this one important. The Portuguese coach had described the match as a dangerous assignment before kickoff, and his selection reflected that concern. Valverde returned to right-back, with first-choice center backs Ibrahima Konaté and Dean Huijsen in the middle. Bernardo Silva and Tchouaméni formed a balanced midfield, while Güler operated as a versatile attacking presence, drifting between the right wing, attacking midfield and even a central forward position.

Whenever Madrid visits Mestalla, it tends to look backward rather than pay attention to the league standings. Focusing on the table would diminish the significance of this historic rivalry. Remembering the past, however, is a matter of taking precautions before trouble strikes. That was particularly relevant given Valencia’s arrival in the relegation zone, without a single home victory to their name. Mourinho’s message was clear: when you know what you’re up against, this is no time to experiment with squad rotation.

Valencia coach Javier Aguirre, meanwhile, made a significant tactical adjustment. He dropped winger Luis Rioja and brought in Umar Sadiq, a powerful but unpredictable striker whose finishing can be wasteful even as he occasionally decides games on his own. His most recent example came against Elche. Sadiq creates chaos, according to his teammates, and Aguirre says he makes life extremely uncomfortable for opposing center-backs.

That was precisely why he was deployed against Konaté and Huijsen, with Arnaut Danjuma operating on the left. The strategy produced little. At the back, Valencia lined up in the expected five-man defense, with Pablo Maffeo on the right. Vinícius, with whom Maffeo has a particularly unpleasant history, was not available to torment him this time. But the defender showed the same aggressive approach against Diomande and anyone else who came his way. Madrid had little trouble exploiting the situation.

Real Madrid take control of possession

There was never much debate over who would control the ball. Valencia initially had it, but Madrid quickly took it away and never looked particularly interested in giving it back.

In Athens, Mourinho’s team had allowed AEK to enjoy possession for longer than was advisable. This time, Madrid pushed the game toward goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski almost immediately. One corner after another gradually forced Valencia deeper into its own half, although Aguirre’s players tried to push their defensive line forward whenever possible to avoid being completely pinned back.

The initial encouragement for Valencia was that Madrid wasn’t creating many clear-cut chances. The home side even managed to threaten, with Mayol unleashing a powerful shot that produced a spectacular save from Thibaut Courtois.

It was another familiar storyline: Madrid victories often come with a crucial intervention from their goalkeeper along the way.

That save briefly lifted Valencia’s spirits. The home side even had a goal disallowed for Guido Rodríguez’s clear offside position, but its attacking threat soon disappeared.

The game then became increasingly physical, largely because Maffeo struggled to keep his temper under control. His aggression proved extremely costly. First, he made a needless challenge on Cucurella and was fortunate to escape without punishment. Then he brought down Kylian Mbappé just outside the penalty area and received a yellow card.

That foul turned out to be disastrous for Valencia. Mbappé’s free kick struck the defensive wall, but the rebound fell to the last player the home side wanted to see with the ball at his feet: Valverde.

The Uruguayan has never been particularly concerned about shooting distance. He drove a low, angled effort through the defense and beyond Dimitrievski’s outstretched hand.

Madrid finally had its breakthrough, and the visitors no longer needed to force the issue. Valencia’s original game plan was now obsolete, but the team still seemed reluctant to abandon its defensive approach. Instead, it remained trapped in its own half, effectively making life even easier for Mourinho’s side.

Before halftime, Bellingham made a determined run down the left and reached the end line before sending a cross through the heart of Valencia’s defense. Güler met it with a ruthless volley, doubling Madrid’s lead.

The scoreline reflected Madrid’s overwhelming superiority. This was not a night when the visitors needed late-game miracles or an endless procession of attacking substitutions to get the job done.

Mbappé applies the finishing touch

With even Valencia’s bat mascot seemingly unable to inspire the home side, Aguirre attempted another tactical shake-up after the break. He sacrificed center back De Haas for winger Luis Rioja, effectively exchanging a defensive piece for an attacking one, and moved Javi Guerra into a position behind Sadiq.

It made little difference.

Valencia remained just as ineffective going forward and became even more vulnerable to Madrid’s counterattacks, which were now arriving with increasing regularity.

Dimitrievski did everything he could to keep the score respectable. He denied Güler in a one-on-one situation, then stopped Mbappé on three separate occasions. Whenever the French superstar finds open space ahead of him, he becomes an almost impossible problem for opposing defenses.

The Valencia goalkeeper also produced an instinctive save with his foot to deny Bellingham, who had powered his way into the penalty area through sheer determination and stamina.

While Dimitrievski was doing his best to hold the crumbling home side together, Danjuma briefly threatened to change the narrative. The Dutch forward accelerated down the left and finished with a low, angled shot that Courtois comfortably saved.

Then came Mbappé’s customary goal.

The Frenchman found the net once again, putting the result beyond doubt, drawing a red card for José Gayà and intensifying the frustration among the Mestalla faithful.

Madrid left Valencia with another victory and an eight-game winning streak. For the home supporters, however, it was another painful reminder of how far their club has fallen.

The next time Real Madrid visits, it will be at a different stadium. Hopefully, the atmosphere will be considerably less depressing.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.