Real Madrid v Valencia | Match Highlights | LaLiga EA Sports Matchday 30
Real Madrid v Valencia
Vinícius Júnior missed his second penalty in less than a month as LaLiga champions Real Madrid were shocked at home by Valencia 2-1 on Saturday, leaving the door open for rivals Barcelona to extend their lead at the top of the LaLiga standings. The Santiago Bernabeu, typically a fortress for Real Madrid, was left in stunned silence as Valencia, a side battling to avoid relegation, pulled off one of the upsets of the season. For Vinícius, the missed penalty was a moment of personal anguish in an otherwise impressive campaign, his feeble effort in the first half symptomatic of a night where Madrid’s usually clinical attack faltered. The Brazilian forward, who has been a key figure in Madrid’s title defense, struck the ball low and tamely to the left, only for Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili to read it perfectly and make a comfortable save. It was a miss that set the tone for a frustrating evening, one that saw Madrid dominate possession and create a plethora of chances, only to be undone by a combination of wasteful finishing and a goalkeeper in inspired form. With Barcelona sitting atop the table and poised to capitalize, the defeat has thrown the LaLiga title race wide open, exposing vulnerabilities in a Madrid side that had, until recently, looked capable of retaining their crown with relative ease. For Carlo Ancelotti and his players, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow, a stark reminder that even the most dominant teams can stumble when it matters most, and it now leaves them playing catch-up in a season that is rapidly approaching its decisive phase.
With a game in hand, Hansi Flick's Barça are top on 66 points, three ahead of Real in second and nine clear of third-placed Atlético. If Barça win against Real Betis later on Saturday, they will extend their lead to six points with eight games to go. Barcelona’s resurgence under Flick has been one of the stories of the 2024-25 season, the German manager instilling a sense of purpose and dynamism that had been lacking in recent years. Sitting on 66 points after 30 matches, their position at the summit is no fluke—they have been relentless, blending youthful exuberance with tactical discipline to emerge as genuine title contenders. Real Madrid, with 63 points, remain within striking distance, but the gap could widen significantly if Barça secure victory in their next fixture. A six-point lead with only eight games remaining would put Flick’s side in the driver’s seat, forcing Madrid to chase perfection in their run-in while hoping for stumbles from their fiercest rivals. Atlético Madrid, meanwhile, linger in third with 57 points, still mathematically in the race but increasingly looking like outsiders as the top two pull away. For Barcelona, the opportunity to extend their advantage comes at a crucial juncture—Real Betis, a notoriously tricky opponent, will test their mettle, but a win would send a powerful message to Madrid and the rest of LaLiga. The Catalans have a game in hand, a potential trump card that could prove decisive, and their form suggests they are more than capable of capitalizing on Madrid’s slip-up. As the season enters its final stretch, the pendulum has swung in Barcelona’s favor, and they will be determined to make the most of this unexpected gift from Valencia.
Valencia are 15th on 34 points. For the visitors, this victory was a rare moment of joy in a campaign that has been defined by struggle and inconsistency. Languishing in 15th place, just five points above the relegation zone, Valencia have endured a torrid season, their form on the road particularly woeful until this shock result at the Bernabeu. With only 34 points from 31 matches, their tally reflects a team that has battled to find rhythm and resilience, often crumbling under pressure against stronger opponents. Yet, against all odds, they produced a performance of grit and determination to stun the champions, a result that could prove to be a turning point in their fight for survival. Giorgi Mamardashvili, on loan from Liverpool, was the hero of the night, his string of saves keeping Valencia in the game when Madrid threatened to overrun them. Hugo Duro’s stoppage-time winner, a header from a rapid counterattack, was the icing on the cake, securing their first away win in LaLiga this term and sending their traveling supporters into delirium. For manager Rubén Baraja, this triumph was a testament to his team’s character, a reward for sticking to their game plan despite the overwhelming odds. While Valencia’s position in the table remains precarious, this result injects a much-needed dose of belief into a squad that has too often looked devoid of confidence, and it could yet galvanize them for the battles ahead in their bid to avoid the drop.
Madrid dominated possession throughout the game but wasted too many chances, with Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili putting in a brilliant performance between the posts, including blocking Vinícius' first-half penalty. The statistics told a tale of Madrid’s control—over 70% possession, dozens of shots, and a barrage of opportunities—but the scoreboard painted a different picture. From the outset, Madrid asserted their authority, moving the ball with purpose and pinning Valencia back in their own half. Yet, for all their dominance, they lacked the cutting edge that has defined their success in recent years. Kylian Mbappé, fouled in the 12th minute to win the penalty, was a constant menace, his pace and trickery troubling Valencia’s defense, but even he couldn’t find a way past Mamardashvili. Vinícius’ penalty miss was the first in a series of squandered chances, his weak effort a rare lapse in composure from a player who has thrived under pressure this season. Mamardashvili, a towering presence in goal, seemed to grow in stature with every save, denying Mbappé multiple times and thwarting Madrid’s attempts to turn their superiority into goals. The Georgian goalkeeper’s performance was a masterclass in shot-stopping, his reflexes and positioning frustrating a Madrid attack that included some of the world’s most lethal finishers. Ancelotti’s side peppered the Valencia goal with shots, but too many were off-target or straight at the keeper, a profligacy that would come back to haunt them as the game wore on.
After Kylian Mbappé was fouled inside the box in the 12th minute, Vinícius, who had missed a penalty in Madrid's Champions League round-of-16 clash against Atlético three weeks ago, struck a feeble effort low to the goalkeeper's left that Mamardashvili pounced on. In the following play, defender Mouctar Diakhaby opened the scoring for Valencia with a header from an André Almeida corner in the 15th minute but almost gifted Madrid the equaliser when he put the ball into his own net six minutes later. The early exchanges set the tone for a chaotic first half, with Madrid’s penalty miss quickly punished by Valencia’s set-piece prowess. Diakhaby’s header, a powerful effort from Almeida’s pinpoint delivery, silenced the Bernabeu and gave the visitors a shock lead. However, his moment of glory was nearly undone minutes later when he inadvertently turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Madrid’s forwards. The home crowd erupted, only for VAR to intervene, spotting an offside in the build-up and chalking off the goal. It was a let-off for Valencia, and Mamardashvili took full advantage, producing a string of saves to preserve their advantage. Mbappé, in particular, was left exasperated, his close-range efforts either blocked or tipped away by the keeper’s outstretched hands. The first half ended with Valencia clinging to their 1-0 lead, a scoreline that flattered them given Madrid’s dominance but reflected their resilience and the home side’s wastefulness.
However, he was rescued by VAR who spotted an offside in the build-up that ruled it out and Mamardashvili made a string of saves to keep Valencia's lead before the break, with Mbappé denied several attempts. Vinícius scored the equaliser from a corner in the 50th minute and pushed for the winner in the second half, with the goalkeeper, on loan at Valencia from Liverpool, continuing to make stunning saves to frustrate Madrid. The second half saw Madrid ramp up the pressure, and Vinícius finally found the net, heading in a corner to level the score and ignite hopes of a comeback. The Bernabeu roared back to life, sensing a turnaround, but Mamardashvili remained an immovable object. His saves, including a breathtaking stop from a Mbappé volley, kept Valencia in the game as Madrid threw everything forward. Vinícius, determined to atone for his earlier miss, drove at the Valencia defense relentlessly, but the winner eluded him. In the end, it was Valencia who struck the decisive blow, Duro’s header in stoppage time sealing a famous victory and leaving Madrid to rue their missed opportunities.
Valencia held on and took advantage of a quick counter five minutes deep into stoppage time as Hugo Duro's header secured their first win away from home in LaLiga this season. "Now [fighting for the LaLiga title] has become more complicated, it's a result that leaves us with a bitter taste in the mouth," manager Carlo Ancelotti told reporters. "I think we played a good game, we created a lot of chances and came very close to scoring goals. It's frustrating but I don't think it's an attitude problem." Ancelotti’s assessment was candid, his frustration palpable as he reflected on a night where his team’s profligacy cost them dearly. With Barcelona lurking, the road to the title just got steeper for Madrid.
