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Turkish international Arda Guler started on the right wing as Real Madrid secured a 2-0 away win against Valencia on Sunday, moving within one point of La Liga leaders Barcelona.
The 20-year-old Turkish international started in a rotated midfield, with Los Blancos missing suspended forward Vinicius Junior and injured playmaker Jude Bellingham. Guler had a chance to score in the first half and was substituted in the 82nd minute for Argentine youngster Franco Mastantuono.
Alvaro Carreras opened the scoring midway through the second half, cutting in from the left and striking inside the near post with his weaker right foot. Valencia nearly equalized when Lucas Beltran’s attempt clipped the post.
Kylian Mbappe then sealed the result in stoppage time with his 23rd league goal of the season, finishing from close range after Brahim Diaz set him up.
In addition to Guler, Madrid fielded academy product David Jimenez at right-back, who came closest to scoring in the first half before being denied by goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.
The result kept Real Madrid’s title pursuit intact, narrowing the gap to Barcelona and maintaining pressure at the top of the La Liga standings.
Elsewhere, Antony’s first-half goal secured Real Betis a 1-0 win away at Atletico Madrid, avenging their 5-0 Copa del Rey loss from four days earlier. The defeat leaves Diego Simeone’s side 13 points behind the leaders. Betis, now fifth, trail fourth-placed Villarreal by four points, though they have played two games more.
In Sunday’s other fixtures, Athletic Bilbao beat Levante 4-2, Sevilla and Girona played out a 1-1 draw, and Getafe won 2-0 at Alaves.
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