http://www.insidespanishfootball.com/156077/real-madrid-2-2-valencia-barca-close-title-frantic-draw-madrid/
Real Madrid have most likely handed the La Liga crown to Barcelona after drawing 2-2 with Valencia. The hosts suffered a nightmarish first half, losing Toni Kroos to injury, hitting the woodwork thrice, and conceding goals to Paco Alcácer and Javi Fuego. Second-half goals from Pepe and Isco set up a frantic finale, but Valencia held firm. Barcelona now have to take three points from their two remaining games, at Atlético Madrid and at home to Deportivo La Coruña, to seal the title.
The importance of this fixture could hardly be overstated. Madrid knew Barça had beaten Real Sociedad 2-0 earlier in the afternoon, a result that meant victory was needed to keep the gap to the league leaders at two points. Valencia were four points behind third-placed Atlético Madrid and three points ahead of fifth-placed Sevilla, in the battle for the top-four Champions League spots.
Carlo Ancelotti put Javier Hernández up front and shifted Sergio Ramos back into defence next to Pepe, terminating the much-debated central-midfield experiment. If that seemed auspicious for the hosts, then so did the statistics. Despite the midweek defeat in Turin, Madrid could draw confidence from a run of nine straight league victories, while Valencia had won just one of their last five encounters on the road.
In the opening, however, the reality could not have been more different. A warning sign came 20 seconds in, when André Gomes tested Iker Casillas. Ten minutes later, Valencia should have been ahead. Gomes pushed over Pepe in an aerial challenge for a long goal kick, the Portuguese claiming a free-kick. It was not given, and the ball bounced through to Alcácer who squandered a fat chance by lobbing over.
As the game settled Madrid started to press, and chances arrived. They were not small. The lively Gareth Bale opened the show by smacking a free-kick into the upright. Next, the Welshman served up a corner for Cristiano Ronaldo, whose header hit the bar. That was not all. On 20 minutes, Valencia countered: José Gayá swept in a sumptuous cross that Alcácer poked home, despite the best efforts of Iker Casillas. 1-0.
With the Bernabéu shocked, Ronaldo tried to respond with a bicycle kick, which was blocked. Then Valencia returned once more. A free-kick by Dani Parejo was flicked in with ease by Fuego as Madrid’s marking collapsed. Ancelotti’s men now needed three goals to have a realistic chance of catching Barça. In addition, Kroos had limped off with an injury.
Madrid were never going to give up easily. Bale unleashed a 30-yard drive towards the top corner that Alves saved magnificently. The winger then combined with Hernández, only for the Mexican’s placed finish to roll into the post. Just before the break, it looked like hope had emerged. Bale was involved again, falling inside the area after a push by Gayá. The penalty was awarded, but Alves, the spot-kick specialist, saved from Ronaldo, capping off a grim 45 minutes for the hosts.
This was a crisis situation for Ancelotti, and the Italian responded emphatically. Two changes were made – Marcelo and Dani Carvajal replaced Fábio Coentrão and Álvaro Arbeloa respectively – as Madrid went all out to score. The tempo increased immediately. Eleven minutes in, the pressure paid off. James Rodríguez swung in a corner that Pepe headed home powerfully, igniting hopes of a second-half comeback.
The game swung back and forth after that. Madrid were desperate for more, while Valencia took counters to sneak a third. The visitors defended well. Until the finale, there were only a few chances to note: a low Ronaldo free-kick that fizzed wide, and an excellent reflex stop by Alves to stop Sergio Ramos’s header.
Things opened up towards the end, and substitute Álvaro Negredo had two opportunities to settle the contest. In between, Carvajal had a shot saved by Alves. Then came the equaliser. Isco picked up possession outside the box, turned, and fired a sweet 20-yarder inside the near post. However, the final, crucial goal never came.
