Three magic minutes enough for Madrid to sink Valencia

Real Madrid went into the game needing a win over 14th placed Valencia in order to maintain their five point gap on leaders Barcelona. Ancelotti's side were able to do this after a convincing 2-0 win.

The tie got of to an impressively energetic start, the first half providing bucket-loads of enterainment, with both sides going close. The Madrid side definitely had the better of the first period's chances, as Asensio had a few promising attempts on goal. The visitors certainly had clearly come with intent in their bellies, though, as they were not any shrinking violets, as they have put Courtois under a bit of pressure too.

The climax of the home side's pressure came just before the break. Tall centre-back Rudiger was denied the opener on 45 minutes, as Benzema's elbow was adjudged to have hit a Valencia defender's face just beforehand. It was a tough blow for a Madrid side who deserved something out of the first forty-five.

The home side came out for the second half determined, and they got two quick-fire goals to kill off any hope the away side had. First up was Asensio with a superb strike from outside the box which saw the visiting keeper stranded, powerless to do anything. You would be hard pressed to say the Spaniard did not deserve this contribution after he had been hassling Mamardashvili is the Valencian goal all night long. 

Just minutes later, Vinicius joined in the festivities. The Brazilian was gently threaded through into the left-hand side of the box before he opened his body up, ready to calmly slot the ball past a sprawling visiting goalkeeper. 

Things soon went from bad to worse for the visitors, who saw themselves down to ten men. The guilty man was Gabriel Paulista, who hacked down goalscorer Vinicius in a violent manner, slicing his legs from out from beneath him. This undoubtedly left what was an already very slim chance of a comeback completely out the window.

 

February 2, 2023