In one of Real Madrid’s sterner tests of the first half of the season, the capital club overcame Valencia courtesy of a first-half goal from Karim Benzema and second-half strikes from Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ricardo Carvalho continued to rehabilitate from a nagging injury, while Coentrao was given the night off to recuperate following his exertions for Portugal during the international break.

The opening quarter of the match was extremely tight with each team trying to gain an edge in midfield. There were few chances and neither goalkeeper saw much action until Benzema popped up in the 20th minute. A free kick near midfield was played over the top early by Xabi Alonso and Benzema was quick to pounce and slotted home Madrid’s first goal of the night. 

The stalemate resumed after the goal for the remainder of the half but it proved to be merely the calm before the second-half storm. 
 

Yellow soon became the thematic color of the evening as referee Jose Teixera struggled to keep control of the game as tempers began to rise. Arbeloa, Ronaldo, Marcelo, Ozil, Ramos and Alonso were all booked along with Valencia’s David Albelda. 

Valencia fought hard to get back into the match and the game slowly began to open up, but it was Madrid who added to their lead in the 72nd minute courtesy of a Sergio Ramos header. The goal did little to discourage Los Che and they soon pulled a goal back through Roberto Soldado. A powerful counter-attack saw Iker Casillas get down well to block Parejo’s goalbound effort, but Soldado connected beautifully on the rebound, half volleying his shot into the far corner of the net. 

Sensing their chance to draw level, Valencia pushed even harder for more goals and it cost them four minutes later when they were caught out by Cristiano Ronaldo. Valencia keeper Diego Alves fancied himself to beat the Portuguese star to a long ball over the top but Ronaldo was able to just nick the ball past the onrushing keeper and showed his composure to finish from a tight angle.

 

Jose Mourinho, in his delirium after Ronaldo’s goal, leaped onto the back of substitute Jose Callejon, drawing the ire of the home crowd. Valencia demonstrated their tenacity by scoring again through Soldado on 83 minutes, setting up a tense finale. In stoppage time, there was some controversy over a supposed handball that prevented the ball from crossing the line but in the end the referee was correct to turn down Valencia’s appeals. 

In spite of the two goals conceded, Real Madrid held on for a reputable victory, but will have to demonstrate more solidarity at the back in order to pry the La Liga trophy out of the grasp of rivals FC Barcelona. Real Madrid will face Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League in midweek before hosting Atletico Madrid in the capital derby next Saturday.

Nathan Motz

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