Valencia: Diego Alves; Otamendi, Mustafi, Lucas Orbán; Enzo Pérez, Dani Parejo; Barragán (Feghouli 73‘), Andrés Gomes, Piatti (Gayà 23’); Negredo (Rodrigo 80‘), Paco Alcácer. 3-2-3-2.
Madrid: Casillas; Dani Carvajal, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Isco, Kroos, James (Khedira 71’); Bale (Jesé 71’), Benzema (Chicharito 80‘), Cristiano Ronaldo. 4-3-3.
Goals:
0-1. 14. Ronaldo (penalty). After wide Kroos free kick hit Negredo on arm in area.
1-1. 52. Barragán. Shot from right of area which deflected off Pepe past Casillas.
2-1. 64. Otamendi. Got above defence to head Dani Parejo corner across keeper.
Yellow cards: Sergio Ramos 15’, Gayà 23’, Enzo Pérez 29’, Mustafi 33’, Isco 39’, Alcácer 42’, Dani Parejo 43’, Lucas Orbán 59’, Carvajal 63’.
Real Madrid’s record run of 22 wins in a row in all competitions came to an end when they were beaten 2-1 by Valencia on Sunday afternoon. That run included the victory in last month’s Club World Cup, and the home players upheld tradition by applauding the new world champions on to the pitch. The hospitality ended there though, and by half time there were seven yellow cards in what was at times a physical match. Ronaldo put Ancelotti’s side ahead from the penalty spot with a quarter of an hour gone after Negredo handled in the area, and he came close to a second soon afterwards when he got round the keeper only to turn a shot into the side netting. Although the locals had the better of the early play, Casillas was not really tested until he had to save a long effort by Andrés Gomes shortly before the break. However a minute or so later Carvajal deflected another shot by the midfielder against the upright, and the keeper had to react quickly to get a hand to Alcácer’s follow up. Some seven minutes in to the second half Barragán levelled it however with an angled shot which deflected in off Pepe. And although Ramos and Bale both went close, Otamendi headed what was to prove the winner from a Dani Parejo corner a few minutes later, a goal which takes the Ches back up to fourth in the table. Despite the defeat though Madrid stay top (with a game still in hand) after second placed Barcelona lost at Real Sociedad later in the evening