The Whites fall at home but remain atop the league table
Real Madrid 2-3 Valencia
March 23, 2008 -Even after reaching the Valencia box more than 30 different times on Sunday, Real Madrid weren't able to take care of business. The visitors survived several balls off the posts and a number of other close calls that would have given the Whites the win. Football isn't always fair, and tonight it was Bernd Schuster's men who deserved better. The Bernabéu opens its doors again next week when Sevilla land in the Spanish capital.
Several changes to the starting lineup were expected and after last weekend's defeat against Deportivo, and it's precisely what Bernd Schuster did heading into Sunday's clash versus Valencia. Miguel Torres surrendered his spot to Sergio Ramos and Marcelo took over duties on the left side of the back line in place of Heinze. Gago replaced Diarra in the midfield and Robinho came in for Drenthe. Julio Baptista reappeared in attack alongside Raúl.
Valencia score, Madrid answer
Raúl and Baptista were kept busy from the minute the ball was kicked off. In fact, the captain could have opened the scoring just three minutes in but was unable to reach Sergio Ramos' pass and was also flagged for offside. Sneijder brought the crowd to its feet minutes later but missed with a long-distance strike. Valencia didn't shy away in attack either. With a ticket to the Copa del Rey final in hand after eliminating Barcelona, the Che seem to have kicked it into another gear and forgotten about their off-the-field problems.
Villa and Mata were permanent nuissances for Casillas and Silva served one assist after the next. On the other end of the pitch, Sergio Ramos curled in a brilliant cross which found no one (20’). The ball was cleared to corner, but Raúl failed to net the ensuing pass from Sneijder (21’). The match settled into a back-and-forth grudge match, and Villa finally opened the scoring by slipping a ball past Casillas after receiving a brillaint pass from David Silva (35’). Real Madrid immediately went in seach of an equaliser and found it. Robinho swung in ball from the top of the box which Raúl headed over Hilderbrand (36’).
Offense on both ends
Real Madrid's wingers continued creating danger after halftime. Ramos along the right and Marcelo along the left confused the Valencia defense, but Madrid also managed to reach the box straight up the middle. Julio Baptista stole the ball and slipped it to Guti, who reached Raúl through a narrow lane for number '7' to score his second of the night (55’).
Valencia never caved in, however, and rallied back with a penalty provoked when Cannavaro pushed Silva. Villa hammered it past Casillas and things were again all knotted up. The ball still moved from end to end. Guti had a go on Hilderbrand with a volley from the edge of the box (71’). Robinho then received a pass from Sneijder and spun to shoot, but Iván Helguera made the save on the goalline (75’). Four minutes later Higuaín's shot caromed off the keeper (79’). The Argentine had another chance but watched the ball strike the post (86’). Although we were witnessing Madrid's best performance over the last month, it was Valencia who broke the deadlock when he beat the defense and Casillas (88’).
The Whites have another chance to maintain or extend their lead next Sunday when Sevilla visit the Santiago Bernabéu.
MATCH REPORT:
REAL MADRID: Casillas; Ramos, Pepe, Cannavaro, Marcelo; Robinho (Higuaín, 77’), Gago, Guti, Sneijder, Baptista (Robben, 62’) and Raúl.
VALENCIA: Hildebrand; Miguel, Albiol, Marchena (Iván Helguera, 32’)y Canería; Maduro, Banega (Baraja, 64’), Silva, Arizmendi, Mata (Morientes, 64’) and Villa.
GOALS:
REFEREE: Carlos Clos Gómez. Booked Marchena (19’), Pepe (83’), Cannavaro (83’), and Marcelo (90’).
GOALS:
0-1, 35': Villa
1-1, 36': Raúl
2-1, 55': Raúl
2-2, 67': Villa
2-3, 88': Arizmendi
NOTES: Matchday 29 of La Liga played at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Match report by Arancha Díaz
Photography by David R. Anchuelo, Fermando Comeche, and Alberto Sereno
Translation by Matthew Goltz
Flash Content
