Real Madrid's La Liga title hopes are all but over after a 2-2 draw against Valencia on Saturday.
The visitors were 2-0 ahead after 26 minutes courtesy of goals from Paco Alcacer and Javi Fuego, and that lead remained intact at the interval, with Cristiano Ronaldo missing from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time.
Real Madrid did manage to level with efforts from Pepe and Isco, but Carlo Ancelotti's side could not find a winner and they are now four points behind leaders Barcelona with just two games remaining.
As it stands, this round of La Liga fixtures are the only confirmed matches in Spain's top flight before the end of the season. All Spanish football competitions will be suspended on May 16 amid a strike that relates to TV rights. The Spanish Football Federation are in disagreement with the government, but there is hope that the situation will be rectified over the next week.
Here, Sports Mole dissects the 90 minutes of action in Madrid.
Match statistics
REAL MADRID
Shots: 29
On target: 10
Possession: 61%
Corners: 12
Fouls: 14
VALENCIA
Shots: 13
On target: 4
Possession: 39%
Corners: 9
Fouls: 19
Was the result fair?
It is difficult to know where to start. One look at the statistics will show that Real Madrid had an incredible 29 attempts - 10 of which were on target. However, the way that they started the game made it extremely difficult to secure the three points that they needed. The visitors took the lead after 19 minutes when Alcacer poked home from close range, before Fuego made it 2-0 in the 26th minute. The game's defining moment came late in the first period when Real Madrid were awarded a penalty, but Ronaldo was denied by Diego Alves. The hosts did make it 2-1 in the 56th minute when Pepe found the back of the net, but they just left themselves with too much to do against a very impressive and strong Valencia side.
Real Madrid remained on the front foot in the second period, but the story of the match was the performance of Valencia goalkeeper Alves, who had a quite incredible game between the sticks. Javier Hernandez and Sergio Ramos both brought sensational saves from the Brazilian in the second period, but the score was made 2-2 little under five minutes from time. Real Madrid were, as expected, on the front foot late on, but Valencia remained a threat on the counter and could easily have scored a third. It is difficult to ascertain whether Real Madrid really deserved all three points such was their defending for long spells and it is difficult to deny Valencia a share of the spoils. Ultimately, it was a wonderful advert for La Liga football.
Real Madrid's performance
Since losing to Barcelona at the end of March, Real Madrid had won all seven of their league games prior to this one. Only three points would do at the Bernabeu if they were to remain in the race, and their challenge has now surely ended. Twice in the opening 19 minutes Real Madrid hit the crossbar, with Gareth Bale's free kick smashing off the woodwork, before Ronaldo was denied by the opposite frame from a powerful header. Moments after the Ronaldo chance, Valencia were ahead and Pepe must take some of the blame for some poor defending. Jose Gaya delivered a super cross into Alcacer, but the Real Madrid centre-back did nowhere near enough to clear the danger. It got worse seven minutes later when Toni Kroos went off injured and Valencia scored a second through Fuego, who was allowed all sorts of space to meet a free kick from Dani Parejo and head into the bottom corner. Again, it was disappointing defending.
Real Madrid launched a strong response, however, with Bale bringing a wonderful save from Alves, before Hernandez hit the post in the 40th minute. Los Blancos had the opportunity to level from the penalty spot when Gaya brought Bale to the ground in first-half stoppage time, but Ronaldo was denied by Alves. As expected, the home side started the second period on the front foot and deservedly found the back of the net through Pepe in the 56th minute. Ramos and Hernandez both came close in the 20-minute spell that followed, but it took until the 84th minute for Isco to level with a stunning strike, which came after Alvaro Negredo had a couple of excellent opportunities for the visitors. As expected, it was all hands to the pump late on, but Valencia managed to hold on and more than likely end Real Madrid's title challenge in the process, with Barcelona now four points ahead with just two games to play. Ultimately, more poor defending has cost them and this time, it appears that they will pay the biggest of prices.
Valencia's performance
Before the match and indeed during, all the talk was about Real Madrid and their battle to remain in the title race. As a result, Valencia almost went under the radar, but their season is far from finished. Los Che can still catch Atletico Madrid in third position and they are battling Sevilla for that fourth and final Champions League position. They narrowly lost at Barcelona last month and adopted a similar high-pressing style for this match. They had to rely on the crossbar to stop them conceding two goals in the 14th and 19th minute, but Alcacer sent the visitors into the lead when he converted from close range. As mentioned, it became 2-0 when Fuego headed home from inside the box and during that spell, Valencia were all over the home team. Alves had a wonderful first half and kept Valencia's lead in tact at the interval when he denied Ronaldo from the spot, but in truth, the visitors took far too long to get going after the break.
It is not much of a surprise that they decided to sit back and absorb the pressure in the early stages of the second half, but that did invite Real Madrid forward, which led to their first through Pepe. There were not actually too many clear chances in the second period and more often than not, Alves came to his team's rescue. Negredo, who came off the bench, had two excellent chances in the 82nd minute, but the Spaniard twice fired wide of the post and two minutes later, Isco had Real Madrid on level terms. It is difficult to be too critical of Valencia such was their performance for long spells, but they might feel that they missed a trick in Madrid. Had the hosts taken their chances, it would have been a routine three points and Valencia have defended a lot better this season than they did at the Bernabeu. When everything is said and done, however, they have secured a vital point and are now chasing down Atletico in third. Head coach Nuno must be praised for the job that he has done at the Mestalla. Now, the 2004 Spanish champions look a proper team.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Diego Alves: This is not a difficult decision. The Brazilian goalkeeper has long been regarded as one of the best stoppers in La Liga and that point was further enhanced at the Bernabeu. Alves denied Ronaldo from the penalty spot late in the first period, but his standout moments came when he denied Ramos from a point-blank header and Bale from outside the box. He was beaten twice, but that takes nothing away from what was a quite sensational performance. Simply put, Valencia would not have drawn without him.
Biggest gaffe
There are a number of incidents that could be picked out - Real Madrid's defending for the first two goals being one. However, Valencia striker Negredo must take some criticism. Twice in the space of a minute late on, the Spaniard had excellent opportunities to send Los Che 3-1 ahead - and surely secure all the points in the process - but he fired over from a Rodrigo de Paul cross, before missing the target after good work from Parejo. Overall, Negredo's finishing this season has been disappointing.
Referee performance
As expected, it was a very busy evening for referee Clos Gomez. However, busy does not necessarily mean that the official had a poor game. The Spaniard was correct to award Real Madrid a penalty late in the first period, but the hosts were unhappy that Gaya, who had already been booked, was not shown a second yellow card. In total, there were eight bookings, but they were all fairly straight-forward decisions. Overall, Gomez can be pleased with his contribution to the match.
What next?
Real Madrid: If the dispute in Spain is rectified, Real Madrid will travel to Espanyol in the league next Sunday. Before that, however, they will welcome Juventus in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday, currently trailing 2-1 from the first leg in Italy.
Valencia: Likewise, Valencia as it stands, have no confirmed game for next weekend as the strike in Spain continues. However, they are due to face in-form Celta Vigo at home.
Matt Law
