Valencia CF Stuns Real Madrid with Historic Victory at Santiago Bernabéu

Published on January 08, 2026 | Translated from Spanish
Valencia CF celebration after Hugo Duro's goal at Santiago Bernabéu with players hugging and Madrid fans in the background with disappointed expressions

Valencia CF surprises Real Madrid with historic victory at Santiago Bernabéu

The Valencian team arrived at the Madridista temple with a completely different attitude than expected, deploying high-intensity football that left the European champions perplexed from the first minutes of the match ⚽

Valencian strategy dismantles the white giant

The pressure in the opponent's half implemented by the visiting coach proved to be the key to the match, with Valencia players recovering balls in Madrid's creative zones and launching swift transitions that generated constant danger

Key elements of the Valencian triumph:
  • Pressing intensity from the initial whistle that disconnected the Madrid stars
  • Recoveries in the opponent's half that allowed arriving with numerical superiority
  • Constant mobility between lines that unbalanced the home defense
"It felt like we were back in 2007, but no, the Valencia simply decided that 17 years of waiting were enough" - Viral fan comment

Supremacy in the midfield

The midfield became Valencian territory, with Hugo Guillamón and Pepelu exerting absolute control over the game's pace. The Madrid players watched helplessly as their key figures were neutralized by the visiting tactical discipline

Factors of Valencian dominance:
  • Control of tempo and ball circulation in the midfield
  • Neutralization of Madrid's playmakers through tight marking
  • Immediate exploitation of every rival error to launch counterattacks

Historic goal and masterful management

In the 76th minute, Hugo Duro capped off a brilliant team play with a precise finish that silenced the Santiago Bernabéu. Valencia demonstrated tactical maturity in the final minutes, managing the result intelligently to seal a victory that broke a 17-year curse in the Madrid stronghold 🏆