Barcelona waste chance to take control of La Liga race: Real Madrid lose to Valencia, but damage limited

The cord of Real Madrid in La Liga may have just broken after Valencia had protected a 95th minute of winner via Hugo Duro for a 2-1 victory in the Santiago Bernabeu, their first in 17 years. Although one eye was perhaps at Arsenal in the Champions League, injuries Carlo Ancelotti would not enable it to rotate much and they came in with only three points that they separated from Barcelona in La Liga. In the Net, 19-year-old Fran Gonzalez debuted between the sticks, with both keepers wounded in front of him on the depth map, speaking volumes about where the depth of Real Madrid is in this critical phase of the season.

Barcelona was able to respond to Real Madrid -falling points with a draw against Real Betis, but despite the fact that Hansi Flick’s men clearly placed four points on top of the competition, it feels like a missed opportunity. When Gavi Barcelona only put in the game for seven minutes, it seemed that it would be supple before Betis struck things only 10 minutes later via Natan. With a date with Borussia Dortmund on the horizon in the Champions League, it is still a point for Barcelona, ​​but they cannot afford to slide away because the El Clasico could make or break this race in May.

Los Blancos fall flat

Just a few minutes after Vinicus Junior’s penalty was saved by Liverpool-bound Giorgi Mhaldashvili, Valencia would immediately continue through Mouctar Diakhaby. Real Madrid the Saw a Diakhaby own goal excluded for a offside later in the first half, but given how often the men of Ancelotti came from behind to win, it was expected that they would eventually come from behind and despite the fact that a victory would come up, but a matter of the goals they needed.

Vini JR strengthened that idea early in the second half of the game, immediately after the break, but despite creating a lot of pressure, Real Madrid could not get the ball past Mamardashvili. The Georgian keeper made eight Saves, confronted with an expected goals on goal of 3.28. It was not because of a lack of trying for Real Madrid, the shots would just not get back in the net. But Valencia was able to hit deeply in the stop time for the victory and to secure what a transforming result could be for their season. Now seven points free from the relegation zone at the moment, Carlos Corberan is on the road to secure a large escape and to ensure that this historic club does not get out of the top flight.

More penal problems

After Kylian Mbappe had buried a penalty during the comeback victory of Real Madrid on Leganes, it seemed that some of their penalty would recover until it had another problem in this collision with Vini Jr who missed his take. With Madrid’s defensive problems they cannot afford to give goals away and Mbappe has been their most effective penalty contractor, which can mean that it is time for Carlo Ancelotti to name him as the permanent fine -nakomer. They cannot have these problems in the Champions League and the competitions only become more important as the season continues.

Build a Clasico

Barcelona and Real Madrid will already meet for a title with the Copa del Rey final on 26 April, but 11 May will be surrounded everywhere on calendars. At the moment the pressure with Barcelona is on the way to that match because Real Madrid could pull in a point with a victory if the gap stays the same. That is why drawing betis feels a bit of a chance.