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Valencia logo
La Liga
Feb 22, 2017 at 5.45pm UK
 
Real Madrid logo

2-1

Zaza (5'), Orellana (9')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Ronaldo (44')

Valencia survive Real Madrid onslaught to claim valiant win

Valencia clinch a hard-fought 2-1 win over La Liga leaders Real Madrid in Wednesday night's rescheduled clash at the Mestalla.

Valencia have produced a defensive masterclass to clinch a hard-fought 2-1 win over La Liga leaders Real Madrid in Wednesday night's rescheduled clash at the Mestalla.

Los Blancos had a chance to put themselves four points clear of Barcelona at the top of the table with a game still in hand after the fixture, originally on matchday 16, was postponed due to their commitments in the World Club Cup.

Instead, they failed to capitalise on the opportunity as a Valencia side rapidly improving under interim boss Voro struck twice in the opening nine minutes and held their nerve for the rest of the game.

The hosts opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Simone Zaza, a player reborn following his dismal loan stint at West Ham United, grabbed his second strike in two games.

The Italian was about 15 yards from the Real goal, with his back turned, when he received a cross from Munir El Haddadi, setting it up with his right foot, before pirouetting and rifling a half-volley past Keylor Navas.

Just five minutes later, Valencia were two to the good as Zaza found Nani on the left-hand side before the ex-Manchester United man threaded a through-ball into the path of Fabian Orellana, who duly slotted home.

It looked like Zinedine Zidane's charges gave themselves the perfect platform upon which to mount a second-half comeback when Marcelo's cross on the stroke of half time found Cristiano Ronaldo, who slipped in between two defenders to plant a towering header past Diego Alves.

However, Voro had prepared his team exceedingly well as they held firm at the back and, despite the visitors registering 22 shots in the game, only five of these were on target.

Real became increasingly desperate in their attempts to find an equaliser as the game went on, but Alves remained comfortable for the most part as his defence remained unshakeable right until the final whistle.

The result means that Valencia climb to 14th place in the la Liga table, 10 points clear of the dropzone, while Real remain one point clear at the top of the table with one game in hand.

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Zinedine Zidane appears prior to the game between Real Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna on January 9, 2016
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid29226164204472
2Barcelona29197360342664
3GironaGirona29195559342562
4Athletic Bilbao29168550262456
5Atletico MadridAtletico29174854342055
6Real Sociedad291210742311146
7Real BetisBetis29101273433142
8Valencia28117103232040
9Villarreal29108114751-438
10Getafe2991193742-538
11Las PalmasLas Palmas29107122932-337
12Osasuna29106133343-1036
13AlavesAlaves2988132635-932
14Mallorca29612112535-1030
15Rayo Vallecano29611122538-1329
16Sevilla29610133644-828
17Celta Vigo2969143244-1227
18CadizCadiz29313132040-2022
19Granada2828183058-2814
20Almeria29110182857-2913

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