Real Madrid beat Valencia to 10 to reduce Barcelona’s lead at the top of La Liga to five points.
Los Blancos took the lead with a superb left-footed strike from Marco Asensio in the 52nd minute.
Brazilian striker Vinicius Jr celebrated his 200th game for Real with his team’s second goal two minutes later.
Gabriel Paulista received a direct red card for the visitors in the 72nd minute for kicking Vinicius.
Antonio Rudiger thought he opened the scoring for the hosts in first-half stoppage time when he headed home past Luka Modric’s cross.
However, the goal was ruled out after the video assistant referee intervened for a foul by Karim Benzema on Yunus Musah in the box.
French striker Benzema, 35, was substituted on the hour mark and left the field clutching the back of his thigh.
The real trip to Liverpool on February 21 for the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, but manager Carlo Ancelotti said Benzema’s injury was “very light”.
Ancelotti told DAZN: “That’s what happens when you play every three days and you don’t have time to recover.”
