The first half saw three players substituted before the 25-minute mark.
Just 15 minutes into the game, Carlos Soler hobbled off with a muscle problem, replaced by 18-year-old Yunus Musah, a former Arsenal midfielder.
Five minutes later, Valencia were forced to make another emergency substitution when Thierry Correia strained a groin and asked to be changed.
Some minutes later, and it was Real Madrid’s turn to make a forced substitution after Carvajal complained of discomfort in his right calf and asked to be changed.
Valencia went ahead in the 66th minute through Hugo Duro’s thumping low strike.
Valencia would have gone top of the table had they held on for the win with four minutes left on a dramatic night at Mestalla.
However, Madrid are never beaten as Vinicius forced a late leveller in the 86th minute, and then crossed for Benzema to nudge in the winner on 88 minutes.
“It is always difficult to play Valencia away and after conceding a goal it is even more difficult, but we kept working. Real Madrid never give up.” –Vinicius Jr.
According to Opta, Karim Benzema is the first player to be directly involved in 11 goals in his first five games of a La Liga season in the 21st century (six goals and five assists in 2021/22), after Lionel Messi in 2011/12 (eight goals and five assists).
Real Madrid now too the league on 13 points while Valencia are in third with 10 points
MOLATsportgist 