Real Madrid was defeated 2-1 by Valencia in a La Liga match at the Santiago Bernabeu, a blow to their title aspirations. Valencia scored a goal in the 5th minute of added time, securing the victory in the match of the 30th round of Liga.
This loss puts Carlo Ancelotti`s team in a difficult position. Barcelona could extend their lead to 6 points if they win against Betis, and Atletico Madrid could equal Real Madrid`s points in second place. Coach Ancelotti acknowledged the setback, stating, `The title race has become more complicated, but we must fight until the last match.`
Real Madrid will rue a missed penalty by Vinicius Junior, his second consecutive failure from the spot, including one in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid. Vinicius Jr. did score earlier in the match, equalizing at 1-1, marking his 104th goal for Real Madrid, putting him level with the legendary Ronaldo.
Despite opportunities, including three wasted chances by Mbappé, Real Madrid couldn`t find a winning goal. Valencia`s goalkeeper Mamardashvili was instrumental in their win, keeping Valencia in contention until their late winner.
Ancelotti commented on the match, saying, `They didn`t need to do much to score twice. We took risks at the end and were caught on the counter. We`ve had deserved losses this season, but today, despite creating many chances, we lacked efficiency.`
Looking ahead, Real Madrid is set to play Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals and will face Barcelona again in the Copa del Rey final on April 26th in Seville.