Valencia vs. Real Madrid: Score, Grades, Reaction from La Liga Game
Real Madrid’s long winning run came to an end in their first game of 2015, as Valencia came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory in La Liga on Sunday.
Real arrived at the Mestalla having won 22 games on the spin in all competitions but found Valencia in determined form.
Valencia came into the match having lost their last five home games in the league to Real, a streak which looked likely to be extended when Cristiano Ronaldo fired the visitors ahead from the penalty spot.
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However, second-half goals from Antonio Barragan and Nicolas Otamendi blew the Liga title race wide open.
Valencia set up with positive intent, with Alvaro Negredo and Paco Alcacer deployed in attack, and were sharp from the first whistle.
Real were given a scare in the first couple of minutes when keeper Iker Casillas had to be sharp off his line to claim a ball into the box.
Real weathered an early storm, as Valencia hassled and harried the superstar visitors, and Carlo Ancelotti’s side went ahead on 14 minutes. A wicked free-kick from out wide on the right by Toni Kroos was flicked on by Gareth Bale, and in attempting to clear, Negredo was penalised for handball.
"One of those handballs that has to be given. Not that you want see it.
— Janusz Michallik (@JanuszESPN) January 4, 2015"
Ronaldo stepped up in confident fashion and slammed the penalty low to the keeper’s right to bag his 26th Liga goal of the season.
The home contingent at the Mestalla were not happy about seeing their side fall behind, and their anger was only increased by a bizarre caution meted out to Jose Gaya on 23 minutes.
Pablo Piatti hobbled off injured on 23 minutes, with Gaya sent on in his place by the fourth official. Referee Jesus Gil Manzano had seemingly not given his permission for Gaya to enter the field, and the defender was shown a yellow card—much to the fury of Valencia players, officials and fans alike.
Valencia should have been pushed over the edge on 26 minutes by Ronaldo, who found space in the box and skipped round Che keeper Diego Alves but fired his shot into the side netting from an admittedly tight angle.
The Che regained their composure as the first half wore on, and Negredo served notice of their threat with a shot over the top of the bar.
Valencia’s best chance of the opening 45 minutes fell to Antonio Barragan, who collected a loose ball on the edge of the box. He sized up his options and elected for precision, but got his effort all wrong and struck his shot straight at Pepe.
Karim Benzema was starved of service in the opening 45 minutes. He had a huge chance when a gap opened up for him on the edge of the box but shot straight at Diego Alves.
At the other end, the woodwork came to Real’s aid in first-half injury time as a deflected shot from Andre Gomes hit the post and Casillas dashed off his line to smother the rebound at the feet of Alcacer.
Gomes hit the post on the stroke of the interval and flashed a shot a foot wide a minute after the break. Casillas was rooted to the spot as Gomes’ sweet volley flew just wide.
A deflection thwarted Valencia earlier in the game, but they were aided by one for the leveller on 52 minutes. Casillas looked well-placed to save a strike from Barragan, but the ball flew off Pepe’s heel and into the top corner.
"GOAL! Antonio Barragán scores the equalizer for @valenciacf! #VCF 1 - 1 #RMCF #LaLiga #beINlaliga pic.twitter.com/7ZVfX348gM
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) January 4, 2015"
Gareth Bale’s pace is a potent weapon and was in evidence as he streaked clear of the Valencia defence shortly before the hour mark. But the quality of his thinking was not on par with his pace as, with Benzema screaming for a square ball, he delayed and delayed while Otamendi got back to make a saving tackle.
After showing his value in defence, Otamendi demonstrated his threat in the attacking third with a brilliant goal.
Otamendi got a run on Sergio Ramos and powered his header into the top corner. It was a quite brilliant header, full of desire to win the ball.
Shouts of "Ole!" rang around the Mestalla as Valencia passed Real into a spin, and they should have grabbed a killer third on 68 minutes. Brilliant one-touch play set Barragan in the clear, but he dragged his effort across the face of goal. It was a matter of feet from a goal-of-the-season contender.
Ramos had a big chance of his own at the other end, but unlike Otamendi, he failed to plant his header on target. The desire to win the ball was there, but the execution was lacking as Real slipped to defeat.
They still sit atop the league but could be overhauled by Barcelona later on Sunday.
Real can take their focus off La Liga for the next few days, as it’s a Copa del Rey clash up next. The intensity levels will remain high, however, as it's no small matter: a Madrid derby with Atletico. The league and Champions League remain priorities for both sides, as neither will want to hand the other a morale boost of a cup win, so expect plenty of intensity on Wednesday.
Notable Player Grades
Karim Benzema: C
It was a quiet day for the forward. He admittedly had to feed on scraps but did waste one big chance.
Isco: C-
The midfielder has been in fine form this season, but this was one of his off days. He was too often wasteful in possession and put his side under pressure.
Gareth Bale: C-
It was a tough day for the Welshman, who was the recipient of some hard challenges from the Valencia defence. He had a big chance to have the final say but fluffed his lines.
Nicolas Otamendi: A
The Argentina defender has been excellent for most of the season and once again showed his value with a commanding display.
Reaction
Speaking at a press conference after the game, Ancelotti believes his side will bounce back from the defeat.
"Valencia are a strong side. We prepared well for the match and played well, but we lost. We congratulate Valencia, who fought hard and now we are focused on preparing for the next game. We will put out our best team against Atlético to get something positive out of the game. The team was physically fine at the final whistle.
This defeat won't affect us. It had to come eventually and we are looking forward because the season is a very long and we are well positioned in La Liga.
"
