03.01.2016 » Valencia 2-2 Real Madrid. Another wasted chance...

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Real Madrid failed to make the most out of Barcelona slip this weekend and ended up settling with a 2-2 draw against Valencia, in their visit to the Mestalla this Sunday night. Karim Benzema with the opener in the first half and Gareth Bale with a terrific header scored the only 2 goals for the Merengues.

This could have been a vital fixture in Real Madrid's league title chase this season, but Rafael Benítez's men once again failed to live up to the expectations and couldn't get more than a 2-2 draw as they visited Valencia at the Mestalla stadium. The fustration is even bigger because the Merengues allowed the hosts' equalizer just moments after they had picked up the lead in the 82nd minute, in a stage of the game where they were already one man short on the field. Karim Benzema netted his 12th league goal of the campaign, while Bale got his 9th in a superb header that could and should have turned out to be the winner of tonight's clash...

Cristiano Ronaldo game photos in Valencia vs Real Madrid
Valencia 2-2 Real Madrid - Goals and highlights:

All Cristiano Ronaldo actions vs Valencia:

For a moment, for one brief fleeting moment, everything seemed right. Gareth Bale's 82nd-minute header seemed like it could have been the turning point of the season. Unfortunately, a goal from Valencia less than a minute later meant Madrid's euphoria was short lived.

Again, Barcelona slipped up and again, Madrid couldn't take advantage as they remain in third place, just one point ahead of 4th placed Villarreal.

With both James Rodriguez and Isco on the bench and Mateo Kovacic starting in midfield, Madrid looked a different side early. Brilliant interplay led to a few chances, but the goal, in which all three of the BBC were involved, was fantastic. On the edge of the box, Benzema played it through to Bale, who then immediately backheeled it to Ronaldo for the former Manchester United superstar to laid off a no-look pass back to Benzema. The Frenchman easily finished into the bottom corner. It was likely the goal of the season so far and probably the best piece of linkup play between the BBC since 2013-2014.

Real Madrid looked good for the rest of the half, but Valencia always pressed and always posed a threat. André Gomes in particular was a handful for both Danilo and Pepe and in fact, it would be Gomes searing run into the heart of the Madrid defense right on the stroke of halftime, that would eventually result in a penalty after he was brought down by his countryman Pepe. Former Real Madrid youth product Dani Parejo would bury the penalty and both sides went into the break at 1-1...

The second half would bring more of the same, Madrid attacking but falling short and Valencia looking to capitalize on the break. The game would take a huge turn midway through the second half, when Kovacic, who was having a great game, made a rash tackle in midfield after several uncalled shouts for a penalty on Cristiano Ronaldo. He was immediately sent off and Madrid were down to 10 from that point on.

Yet and almost incredulously, Madrid would take the lead through a Bale header with only 8 minutes to go. Toni Kroos' fantastic cross from a freekick met the head of the Welshman, who buried his header into the corner of the net.

But Madrid would fall asleep in the box just instants later and Paco Alcacer would have a simple header from right outside the six-yard box to make it 2-2, less than two minutes after Bale's apparent match winner.

It was a huge missed opportunity for Madrid and Benitez, but all things considered, it was a hard match away to Valencia. Just a shame that Bale's goal wasn't the match winner...

Author: Terrance Ross

Real Madrid line-up vs Valencia:

Goalkeeper: Navas
Defenders: Marcelo, Pepe, Ramos, Danilo
Midfielders: Kroos, Modric, Kovacic
Attackers: Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema.

Cristiano Ronaldo next game will be for Real Madrid in La Liga on the 9th of January of 2016, against Deportivo La Coruña. You can watch Juventus live stream, Real Madrid vs Deportivo, Barcelona vs Espanyol, Stoke City vs Liverpool, Arsenal vs Sunderland, and Wycombe vs Aston Villa, all matches provided from our live soccer game pages.

Real Madrid next game:
Real Madrid vs Deportivo La Coruña kick-off time (09-01-2016):

Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+7: 02:30
Jakarta (Indonesia) | UTC/GMT+6: 01:30
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+4.30: 00:00
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+1: 20:30
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+0: 19:30
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-4: 15:30
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-5: 14:30
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-8: 11:30

Sources: ronaldo7.net / realmadrid.com / bbc.com / goal.com

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