adminMourinho.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria both hit braces and Gonzalo Higuain was also on target in a first-half goal romp.
But there is still little hope of them retaining their title as they trail Barcelona by 15 points despite the Catalan side losing 3-2 against Real Sociedad on Saturday, their bitter rivals’ first league defeat of the season.
They are also seven points off neighbours Atletico Madrid who beat Levante 2-0 earlier on Sunday.
“As long as there are points available then you can’t throw in the towel but the aim isn’t to just win for the league but for the other positions behind and to improve,” said Real Madrid assistant coach Aitor Karanka.
“All we do is to try and improve and it looks as though we are on the right lines. Against Valencia we have shown what we can do.”
Madrid arrived at the Mestalla having beaten Valencia 2-0 in a stormy Spanish Cup quarter-final first leg tie in midweek.
There has been plenty of tension in the Madrid camp following their poor form but there were no repercussions from an argument between Mourinho and Ronaldo after the first leg of the cup.
Furthermore, Iker Casillas was preferred in goal to Adan Garrido who had controversially replaced the Spain international before being suspended.
Still they had important absentees at the back with Pepe, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo all missing and they faced a rejuvenated Valencia side under Ernesto Valverde who had won their previous three league games.
After a cagey opening spell Madrid were suddenly presented with a gift for Higuain which he failed to take advantage of in front of goal.
He was left unmarked but side-footed an Alvaro Arbeloa cross wide from six yards.
Higuain was given the chance to make amends a minute later and this time made no mistake. — AFP.
Online Reporter
Peter Tanyanyiwa