Valencia 1-4 Real Madrid: Crisis on hold, but scoreline flatters champions
Zidane's side won thanks to two Cristiano Ronaldo penalties
The scoreline distorts events at Mestalla, but what is true is that Real Madrid’s crisis is on hold.
Valencia
1 ________________ 4
Real Madrid
LINE UP
Valencia
Neto; Montoya, Coquelin, Garay, Lato (Pereira, 77'); Guedes (Carlos Soler, 46'), Parejo, Kondogbia, Gayá; Mina y Rodrigo (Zaza, 75')
Real Madrid
Keylor; Carvajal, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo; Casemiro, Kroos, Modric (Kovacic, 87'); Benzema (Asensio, 77'), Bale (Lucas, 69') y Cristiano
Goles
0-1, Cristiano M 16 de penalti; 0-2, Cristiano (37'), de penalti; 1-2, Mina (58), remata de cabeza tras la salida de un córner; 1-3 Marcelo M 83 con un disparo raso, 1-4 Kroos M 88, desde fuera del área.
Árbitro
Estrada Fernández (Comité Catalán). Mostró amarilla a Bale (51') por protestar, Gayá (60') por una entrada a Varane; a Varane (62') por tocar el balón con la mano; amarilla a Carvajal (69') por falta peligrosa; amarilla a Parejo (87').
Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice from the penalty spot with Marcelo and Toni Kroos grabbing late goals to put gloss on what was an exciting game but not one Madrid dominated.
They started well, with Gareth Bale missing a fine chance before the bungling Martin Montoya brought down Cristiano Ronaldo in the area at the end of a lightning break.
The Portuguese dispatched his penalty, his 100th from the spot in all competitions for club and country, which was followed by the 101st before the half was out.
Again it was Montoya at fault, crashing into Karim Benzema, and Ronaldo drilled home.
Valencia pulled one back when Santi Mina headed home Dani Parejo’s corner and various other chances went begging, leaving Mestalla howling.
With Valencia committed to attacking, Madrid took advantage on the counter with Marcelo firing in the third and Toni Kroos slotting home number four in the final stages.
Madrid’s win takes them nowhere—they remain fourth, but are two points closer to Valencia in third.
However it will serve a higher purpose if it can re-energise a side that has looked hopeless in recent months.
