Domenech spills Vazquez's cross, but there's no attacker on hand to punish the goalkeeper.
90' +2
Madrid are confidently retaining possession as they close this one out.
90'
Three minutes of stoppage time are added.
88'
Another foray forward grinds to a halt for Valencia as Arribas works hard to come back and pick off a pass from Musah.
86'
A free-kick for the away side falls to Racic inside the box, but he plants his volley well wide.
83'
P. Cutrone enters the game and replaces M. Gómez.
Gomez is swapped out for Cutrone after a tough day in attack for the away side.
81'
Musah tracks back well to cut out Isco's switch to Vinicius and prevent further damage.
79'
Isco enters the game and replaces L. Modrić.
M. Díaz enters the game and replaces K. Benzema.
Madrid make two changes with the game winding down. First, Modric comes off for Isco.
Meanwhile, Benzema is replaced by Mariano after a fantastic performance as the spearhead of this Madrid attack.
77'
Domenech is called into action again, as he calmly dives to save Arribas' low effort from range.
Minute
Description
73'
Gameiro almost latches onto Racic's throughball, but Varane is there to stab it away from the attacker at the last moment.
71'
Sergio Arribas enters the game and replaces Marco Asensio.
Asensio departs with Arribas taking his spot in attack.
70'
Modric hits another long range shot, but it swings well wide.
68'
The hosts continue to calmly knock it around the back as they attempt to lure Valencia out of their defensive shape.
66'
Valencia have been a little more solid in this half, but they're still struggling to create anything. They'll be hoping that their second double switch will change this.
64'
Wass is replaced by Lee Kang-In on the left flank.
Soler also makes way, with Oliva taking his place in midfield.
63'
C. Oliva enters the game and replaces Carlos Soler.
Lee Kang-In enters the game and replaces D. Wass.
57'
Valencia are beginning to show some intent as Musah drives inside from the left flank, before having a shot blocked bravely by Casemiro.
55'
Kroos drills another one from distance, but thankfully for Domenech, this one skews well wide.
51'
Valencia continue to look lost as Correia dummies Soler's pass only to realise that there was no recipient waiting beyond him, meaning the ball runs wastefully out of play.
50'
Asensio slaloms past Gaya and Ferro before having a 25-yard effort blocked away by Gabriel.
48'
The second half has started in the same way the first ended - Madrid enjoy a series of corners as they begin to put Valencia under pressure.
46'
Y. Musah enters the game and replaces Gonçalo Guedes.
Thierry Correia gets yellow.
K. Gameiro enters the game and replaces Manu Vallejo.
Guedes also departs with Musah taking his place.
Valencia make a double substitution at half time, the first of which sees Vallejo make away for Gameiro in attack.
Correia is immediately booked for an exuberant but heavy challenge on Vinicius.
45' +1
HALF TIME: Real Madrid 2-0 Valencia
44'
U. Račić gets yellow.
Racic is booked for tripping Asensio to stop another Madrid attack.
42'
T. Kroos has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Lucas Vázquez.
Vazquez has replaced Carvajal well on the right flank and he helps put Madrid into a commanding position with a crisp pass to set up an excellent Kroos finish.
KROOS! 2-0! Madrid slice through Valencia again as Vazquez cuts a precise pass back from the byline into Kroos on the edge of the box, where the midfielder passes his trademark low finish right into the bottom corner!
41'
The resulting set-piece amounts to nothing as Valencia look to avoid any further damage before the break.
40'
Domenech punches Modric's 25-yard drive away for a corner.
38'
Vazquez's delicate cross is ever so slightly too high for Benzema and the striker climbs over Correia at the back post to head it high and wide.
32'
Madrid haven't lost any fluency with the substitution of Carvajal - they're continuing to patiently pass through Valencia with ease.
28'
Lucas Vázquez enters the game and replaces Dani Carvajal.
Carvajal is replaced by Vazquez after suffering that injury.
27'
Gonçalo Guedes gets yellow.
Guedes is shown a yellow card after tripping a rampaging Varane to stop a counter-attack.
24'
Casemiro drives towards the edge of the box where he's halted by Ferro. The midfielder cries out for a free-kick but the referee waves play on.
22'
Valencia are making a concerted effort to patiently hold onto possession right now, as they look to establish a foothold in this one.
20'
A rare Valencia attack breaks down as Gomez fouls Nacho after aggressively attempting to reach Wass' cross.
18'
Modric attempts to power a shot in from 18 yards, but it's charged down by Correia.
14'
Well, this has been the ideal start for Madrid. They'll be aiming to quickly add to their lead and shut this game down before Valencia can react.
12'
K. Benzema has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by T. Kroos.
BENZEMA! 1-0! Madrid take an early lead as Kroos spreads the play out to the left flank, where Benzema drifts inside and past Correia before whipping a low shot from 20 yards across Domenech and into the bottom corner!
It was a regulation pass from Kroos out to Benzema, but the striker turned it into a goal with a brilliant run and finish!
8'
Valencia spring away on the break, but Casemiro manages to catch up with Vallejo before executing a precise slide challenge to poke it away from the attacker.
6'
Madrid enjoy a long spell of possession in midfield as they settle into the game.
4'
Wass smashes a vicious cross into the six-yard box, but it flashes past everyone and the hosts regroup with a throw-in.
1'
Valencia get the first half underway.
Valencia, meanwhile, have had a tough campaign. They’re sitting in a disappointing 12th place, but with four points from their last two matches they’ll be hoping to continue their upturn in form today.
SUBS: Miguel Gutierrez, Victor Chust, Andriy Lunin, Isco, Lucas Vazquez, Sergio Arribas, Diego Altube, Mariano.
SUBS: Patrick Cutrone, Jason, Cristian Rivero, Alex Blanco, Lee Kang-In, Christian Oliva, Toni Lato, Eliaquim Mangala, Kevin Gameiro, Yunus Musah.
VALENCIA (4-4-2): Jaume Domenech; Thierry Correia, Gabriel Paulista, Ferro, Jose Gaya; Daniel Wass, Uros Racic, Carlos Soler, Goncalo Guedes; Maxi Gomez, Manu Vallejo.
The players are emerging from the tunnel and kick off is just seconds away!
Hello and welcome to live commentary of this LaLiga fixture between Real Madrid and Valencia. The hosts enter this one in third place – eight points behind Atletico Madrid in first – and they’ll know that a win is essential to stay in the hunt for the title.
REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Nacho Fernandez, Ferland Mendy; Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Luka Modric; Marco Asensio, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior.
Valencia need an overhaul after that period - they showed little going forward and need to be more adventurous in the second 45.
Real Madrid get the second half underway.
That's all for now though, goodbye!
The result means that Madrid move up to second - five points behind Atletico. Valencia, meanwhile, remain in 12th.
Commentary
More…