Real Madrid have failed to go level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga after falling to a 2-1 defeat to Valencia in their MD30 clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.
2024/2025 La Liga
1-2
Match Report
Despite facing Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday, Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti named a very strong side. Kylian Mbappe started, and just beyond the 10-minute mark, he was in the action as he won a penalty after being pulled down by Cesar Tarrega inside the area. Vinicius Junior was the player elected to take the spot-kick, but his effort was poor and easily saved by Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Real Madrid and Vinicius were made to pay for that miss only a few minutes later when Valencia took a shock lead. Diego Lopez delivered an excellent corner that landed perfectly on the head of Mouctar Diakhaby, who powered the ball past Fran Gonzalez, who was making his first team debut for Los Blancos as Andriy Lunin was not risked by Ancelotti due to a calf problem.
Valencia kept their lead until half time, but just five minutes into the second period, Real Madrid forced an equaliser when Luka Modric’s corner was flicked into the path of Vinicius, who stabbed home from close range to make up for his penalty miss.
From that moment on, Real Madrid dominated in search for a winner, but on every occasion, they were denied by strong Valencia defending and Mamardashvili, who was in inspired form – his save to deny Federico Valverde was particularly special. And in the end, it was Los Che that stole the victory that Hugo Duro headed home in the 95th minute to secure their first Bernabeu victory since 2008.
It is a result that keeps Real Madrid three points behind Barcelona in the title race, but that gap could grow to six if the Catalans defeat Real Betis on Saturday night. Valencia rise to 14th with the victory, and they are now seven points clear of the drop zone.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
7' Kylian Mbappé misses the great chance and it's offside
12' Penalty Missed! Vinicius Jr has missed
15' DIAKHABY scores against Real Madrid!! Real Madrid 0-1 Valencia
17' Mbappe is taken down in box bur ref says no pen
18' Valverde looks like injured
21' NO GOAL! Offside in the build-up
34' Mbappe’s shot is deflected wide. Corner
36' Mbappe with a good effort, saved
37' Mbappe with a good chance but hits the post
42' Bellingham CLOSE! Great run
46' Yellow Card! Umar booked
50' VINICIUS JR HAS EQUALIZED!! Real Madrid 1-1 Valencia
52' Vinicius finds Bellingham but he has his shot saved from a difficult angle
57' Brahim OFF, Rodrygo ON
65' VALENCIA super close to taking the lead!
67' Mbappe comes close… just wide
71' Fede Valverde is denied by an insane save
76' Alaba ON, Fran OFF
79' The players want a penalty for a handball in the Valencia box!
85' Arda Güler replaces Lucas
91' Match Event for Real Madrid vs Valencia
95' Hugo Duro scores against Real Madrid! Real Madrid 1-2 Valencia
97' Match Event for Real Madrid vs Valencia
Line-ups
Real Madrid XI: Modric, Rudiger, Vazquez, Mbappe, Valverde, Brahim, Fran García, Tchouameni, Vinicius, Bellingham, Fran González
Subs: Alaba, Vallejo, Lunin, Rodrygo, Camavinga, Güler, Raúl Asencio, Endrick, Sergio Mestre
Valencia XI: Diakhaby, Umar, Almeida, Aarons, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jesús Vázquez, César Tárrega, Diego López, Enzo Barrenechea, Cristhian Mosquera, Javi Guerra
Subs: Stole Dimitrievski, Domenech, Sergi Canós, Pepelu, Rafa Mir, Hugo Guillamón, Hugo Duro, Fran Pérez, Yarek Gasiorowski, Rubén Iranzo, Iker Córdoba, Hamza Bellari