Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa (Dani Carvajal 46’), Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Coentrao (Marcelo 46’); James, Kroos (Illarramendi 25‘), Isco; Bale, Chicharito, Cristiano Ronaldo. 4-3-3.
Valencia: Diego Alves; Barragán, Mustafi, Otamendi, Gayà; Dani Parejo, Javi Fuego, André Gomes (De Paul 78‘); Feghouli, Paco Alcácer (Negredo 69‘), Piatti (Lucas Orban 90‘). 4-3-3.
Goals:
0-1. 19. Alcácer. Got on the end of Gayà cross to touch ball on past Casillas.
0-2. 26. Javi Fuego. Back-header wide of keeper from Dani Parejo free kick.
1-2. 57. Pepe. Got above defence to head James corner down past keeper.
2-2. 84. Isco. Picked up Bale pass and curled long shot wide of Diego Alves.
Yellow cards: Gayà 16’, Arbeloa 25’, Chicharito 45’, Pepe 48’, Sergio Ramos 58’, Otamendi 58’, André Gomes 73’, Dani Parejo 91’.
Real Madrid ended the day four points behind leaders Barcelona after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Valencia on Saturday evening, and they now need to hope that the Catalans don’t win either of their last two games against Atlético and Deportivo. Casillas had to save from Paco Alcácer early on, but Ancelotti’s side hit the crossbar twice in the next few minutes, the first a Bale free kick, and the second a header from Ronaldo following a corner. However with twenty minutes gone Alcácer got on the end of Gayà’s cross to open the scoring, and soon afterwards Javi Fuego made it two with a back-header from Dani Parejo’s free kick. Diego Alves saved from Bale, and Chicharito hit the post again with an angled shot, and with the first half coming to a close the locals were awarded a penalty when Gayà pushed over Bale in the area. Alves saved Ronaldo’s spot kick though, and after the interval the Brazilian keeper made a couple of good saves from Chicharito before Pepe finally beat him with a header from a James corner. Alves was in action again after that to keep out a Sergio Ramos header, and Negredo volleyed a shot over at the other end in reply. And with six minutes to go Isco made it all square, curling a shot wide of the keeper from outside of the area. However the Ches held fast for an important point which keeps them in fourth spot, and after the midweek Champions League defeat, there were some whistles from the home supporters as the players left the field.