Real Madrid ended their surprising defeat to Chés by 1-2 against Valencia at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium on Saturday after a run of three consecutive home games in the space of a week.
They did so after a good deal of suffering to beat Leganés and keeping up with FC Barcelona in the fight for the league title, and drawing with Real Sociedad (4-4) to seal their place in the Copa del Rey final, where they will face the Catalans.
Real Madrid suffer against a Valencia side that believed they could win
An extra effort to come back in two matches that showed defensive weaknesses in Carlo Ancelotti‘s team. Six goals conceded, serious errors both as a unit and individually and a goal that presents a problem at the worst possible moment.
Valencia, for their part, arrived at the match with significant absences, but also with the desire to achieve their first away win at a Bernabéu that the club has not been able to access for more than 17 years.
The match started badly for the Madridistas, who within a few minutes conceded the first goal to Valencia CF through Diakhabi, who took the lead.
From then on, Real Madrid were caught out in every area of the pitch, with a game quite behind the Valencia players.
From less to more, Vinicius found the equalizer, but Hugo Duro surprised everyone
During the first 20 minutes, or even 30, Real Madrid were seen to be trying, but failing to decipher the approach of Carlos Coberán’s team. In fact, Valencia at many moments thought they were the kings of a match in which not even a penalty and a golden opportunity for Bellingham were enough to put them ahead on the scoreboard.
Neither was Vinicius in the first part of the game, which was offside several times while Madrid were attacking.
Later, and just after the start of the second half, Real Madrid and Vinicius himself gave a break (momentary) when the Croatian player took a corner, Javi Guerra played it to the far post trying to clear and where, this time, Vinicius appeared to push it in. Madrid drew level in a game that had become very difficult.
After the Brazilian’s goal, Real Madrid looked much more forceful in the second half, although they were not too lucky because, after several attempts and a failed connection between Mbappé and Fran García, among the most outstanding, they were unable to connect in front of goal.
So much so that from the 70th minute onwards, the minutes at the Bernabéu fell like a boulder: the Whites knew that if they didn’t win, the league would escape them.
The Whites tried hard without giving the ball to Valencia, but they couldn’t find the goal and Hugo Duro headed home in the 95th minute after a cross from Rafa Mir to give victory to Valencia, who are getting closer and closer to safety.
Carlo Ancelotti included some important surprises, notably the introduction of Fran González in goal, as well as leaving Asencio, Camavinga and Rodrygo on the bench, bringing Tchouameni into the center of the defense. But it wasn’t enough.
The home side’s reaction was noticeable on the scoreboard and in the game, with more speed of the ball and more battle in the individual duels. But it only lasted a moment. Bellingham almost made it 2-1 after a good run by Vinicius to the baseline and the game started to swing towards the Valencia goal.
Mbappé shot wide after a one-two with Fran García, Mamardashvili saved a shot from Valverde in the six-yard box following a pass from Mbappé, the Frenchman shot over from the edge of the box…
Real Madrid accumulated chances, more by inertia than by football, and ended up falling to a Valencia counter-attack, which took just three touches to put the ball in Fran González’s net. Finally, defeat was sealed at the Bernabéu. The league, if it was already complicated, now has an extra difficulty added to it.
Physically worn out by the load of matches, Real Madrid were again behind on the scoreboard at the Santiago Bernabéu, but this time they did not complete their comeback attempt.
And the fact is that, unlike against Leganés a week ago, with a goal from Mbappé in the 76th minute that gave them the three points, and in Tuesday’s agonizing Copa del Rey tie, there was no room for local heroics at the Santiago Bernabéu. But there was for the visiting team.