Match ends, Real Madrid 2, Valencia CF 2.
Real MadridReal Madrid2ValenciaValencia2
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a dramatic late equaliser to rescue a draw for Real Madrid against Valencia.
The hosts fell behind when Jeremy Mathieu nodded in but Sergio Ramos levelled with a header on the hour.
Dani Parejo's composed finish regained the lead for Valencia but Ronaldo's backheeled volley secured a potentially vital point in the title race.
Real trail La Liga leaders Atletico, who lost to Levante earlier on Sunday, by five points.
However, Carlo Ancelotti's side have a game in hand on both Atletico and Barcelona, who are two points ahead in second.
Real have three games remaining and will take the title if they win all of them and Atletico lose one of their final two fixtures.
| La Liga title run-in | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Atletico Madrid | Real Madrid | Barcelona | |
| 7 May | Valladolid (A) | ||
| 10-11 May | Malaga (H) | Celta Vigo (A) | Elche (A) |
| 18 May | Barcelona (A) | Espanyol (H) | Atl. Madrid (H) |
Atletico's surprise 2-0 defeat at Levante earlier on Sunday has thrown open the title race once again and, perhaps buoyed by that result, Real attacked straight from the outset as Karim Benzema swiftly flashed a header over from Gareth Bale's deep cross.
But their attacking intent almost proved costly as they momentarily forgot their defensive responsibilities. Valencia midfielder Parejo was left unmarked in the Real penalty area to meet a right-wing cross, but his header was too close to Real keeper Diego Lopez, who tipped the ball on to the crossbar.
Despite that scare, Real continued to attack, with their front three of Bale, Ronaldo and Benzema looking dangerous on the counter.
It was from one such swift push into the Valencia half that Ronaldo went close to grabbing the opener as Benzema poked a pass through the defence for the Portugal forward, who struck a fierce first-time drive that visiting keeper Diego Alves did well to save.
It looked as though they would have to be content with going into the break level but Valencia stunned the Bernabeu when they took the lead a minute before the break.
Parejo drove a corner into the box where Mathieu was on hand to flick a header into the back of the net.
Unsurprisingly, Real came out strongly after the restart as Angel Di Maria shot wide before Ronaldo saw his goalbound effort pushed away by Alves.
The Valencia defence was finally breached midway through the second half as Ramos, who scored twice in the Champions League semi-final win over Bayern Munich in midweek, powered in a header from close range after Ronaldo had nodded the ball back across goal.
But the home crowd's celebrations had barely settled down when Valencia swiftly regained the lead. Sofiane Feghouli's cross found Parejo, who kept his cool to drill a first-time finish low into the corner.
Real upped the tempo in the closing stages as they desperately searched for an equaliser.
Ronaldo's driven free-kick was saved, before Alvaro Morata sent an effort over the bar.
And with seconds left, Di Maria hit a cross into the area and Ronaldo improvised superbly, sticking out a boot to flick the ball into the net and keep Real right in the title hunt.
Line-ups
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-3
- 25López
- 15Carvajal
- 12Marcelo
- 14Alonso
- 2Varane
- 4Ramos
- 24IllarramendiSubstituted forDi Maríaat 45'minutesBooked at 51mins
- 23IscoSubstituted forCasemiroat 72'minutes
- 9BenzemaSubstituted forMorataat 84'minutes
- 11Bale
- 7Cristiano Ronaldo
Substitutes
- 1Casillas
- 5da Silva Coentrão
- 6Khedira
- 16Casemiro
- 18Nacho
- 21Morata
- 22Di María
Valencia
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Alves CarreiraBooked at 80mins
- 12da Silva Pereira
- 14Bernat
- 11KeitaBooked at 71mins
- 20Moreira da Costa
- 22Mathieu
- 8FeghouliBooked at 90mins
- 15Fuego Martínez
- 16AlcácerSubstituted forGonçalves Oliveiraat 67'minutes
- 17VargasSubstituted forBarragánat 90+5'minutes
- 21ParejoSubstituted forVezoat 89'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Vezo
- 7Gonçalves Oliveira
- 13Guaita
- 19Barragán
- 24Herrero Javaloyas
- 25Vasconcelos Araújo
- 28Nicolás Cartabia
- Referee:
- Carlos Clos Gómez
- Attendance:
- 71,897
Match Stats
Home TeamReal MadridAway TeamValencia
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home32
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home11
- Away5
- Corners
- Home10
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 2, Valencia CF 2.
Post update
Offside, Real Madrid. Ángel Di María tries a through ball, but Álvaro Morata is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Valencia CF. Antonio Barragán replaces Eduardo Vargas.
Post update
Attempt missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Marcelo with a cross.
Booking
Sofiane Feghouli (Valencia CF) is shown the yellow card.
Goal!
Goal! Real Madrid 2, Valencia CF 2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ángel Di María with a cross.
Post update
Foul by Álvaro Morata (Real Madrid).
Post update
Rubén Vezo (Valencia CF) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Daniel Carvajal with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Valencia CF. Rubén Vezo replaces Daniel Parejo because of an injury.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Daniel Parejo (Valencia CF) because of an injury.
Post update
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by João Pereira.
Post update
Hand ball by Sofiane Feghouli (Valencia CF).
Post update
Foul by Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid).
Post update
Jonas (Valencia CF) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Álvaro Morata (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Marcelo.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Álvaro Morata replaces Karim Benzema.
Post update
Foul by Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid).
