Valencia 1 - Real Madrid 1

Valencia: Cañizares; Sissoko, Ayala, Marchena, Carboni; Albelda, Baraja; Rufete (Xisco 86'), Aimar, Fabio Aurelio; Mista (Di Vaio 60'). 4-2-3-1.
Madrid: Casillas; Raúl Bravo, Iván Helguera, Samuel, Roberto Carlos; Beckham (Celades 77'), Gravesen, Figo, Solari (Portillo 77'); Guti (Borja 85'); Ronaldo. 4-4-1-1.

Team changes: Valencia: Cañizares, Marchena, Baraja for Palop, Caneira, David Navarro / Madrid: Guti for Owen.

Goals:
1-0. 14. Aimar. Latched on to loose ball on edge of area to fire shot past Casillas.
1-1. 28. Ronaldo. Picked up Guti reverse pass and rounded Cañizares to score.

Second placed Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Antonio López's new look Valencia on Saturday evening, and they ended the day eight points behind leaders Barcelona. Pablo Aimar confirmed his return to form with the opening goal for the home side on the quarter hour mark, Mista unable to control his pass under a challenge from a defender, but the ball falling kindly to the Argentine midfielder for him to crash a shot wide of Casillas. But Ronaldo equalised fifteen minutes later after an incisive pass from Guti put him through, keeping his feet and rounding Cañizares to score his first goal since the 16th January.

There was little action in the rest of the first half, a Roberto Carlos free kick over the top and a Fabio Aurelio shot wide the only attempts at goal. But both keepers were in action after the restart, Casillas getting down well to save from Mista and Cañizares keeping out Ronaldo. Celades and Solari came on for the visitors and both tried their luck, and Cañizares produced the save of the night in injury time when he managed to steer Ronaldo's shot over the bar.

There was still time though for Aimar to get on the end of a long ball out of midfield to send a looping header over Casillas and on to the crossbar, but the Madrid defenders cleared the danger. Finally though both sides had to settle for a point each, which leaves Luxemburgo's side further away from the league title, and means Valencia may well drop out of the Champions League spots by the end of the weekend.