MADRID: Second-half goals from left back Alvaro Carreras and Kylian Mbappe gave Real Madrid a 2-0 win away to Valencia on Sunday night, keeping the defending champion one point behind FC Barcelona in the La Liga title race.
Carreras opened the scoring in the 65th minute with an individual effort, riding a pair of weak challenges before finishing. Mbappe sealed the victory in injury time as Madrid, largely subdued before the break, steadily forced Valencia deeper in the second half.
While Madrid stayed on Barcelona's heels, Valencia slipped closer to the relegation zone in a difficult week that also saw the club eliminated from the Copa del Rey.
Antony scored in the 29th minute as Real Betis avenged its recent Copa del Rey quarterfinal loss to Atletico Madrid with a 1-0 league win at the Metropolitano Stadium.