Real Madrid 1-2 Valencia: Match report & 3 talking points as Los Blancos stumble in title race | OneFootball

Real Madrid stumbled in the defence of their La Liga crown on Saturday afternoon as they were beaten 2-1 by Valencia at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Mouctar Diakhaby had opened the scoring shortly after Vinicius Junior missed a penalty during a dramatic first half, with the Madrid winger then redeeming himself five minutes after the break as he equalised from close range.

But Hugo Duro headed home the winner for the visitors in the 95th minute at the end of a brisk counter-attack, condemning Madrid to a devastating defeat and boosting Valencia's bid to avoid relegation.

How the game unfolded

Carlo Ancelotti made four changes from the side that beat Leganes in La Liga last weekend and Vinicius was one of those promoted back into the starting lineup. The Brazilian was offered the perfect opportunity to end his four-game goal drought for Madrid from the penalty spot after Kylian Mbappe was brought down in the area, but he missed his second spot kick in the space of a month as Giorgi Mamardashvili comfortably rebuffed his weak effort.

Things went from bad to worse for Los Blancos just two minutes later as Carlos Corberan's resurgent visitors took a surprise lead. Diakhaby's thumping header silenced the Bernabeu as 19-year-old goalkeeper Fran Gonzalez, who was making his Madrid debut, was helpless to prevent the hosts from falling behind.

Diakhaby's involvement knew no bounds as the Valencia centre-back fired a comical own goal beyond Mamardashvili shortly after opening the scoring, saved only by an offside against Mbappe during the build-up. The Guinea international then almost extended his side's advantage at the other end moments later, arriving at the far post just a second too late to convert a teasing corner.

A series of Mbappe shots - by far Madrid's liveliest player during a frustrating first half - came closest to finding an equaliser, one of which whistled narrowly wide of the post and another stinging the gloves of Mamardashvili. But the home side were unable to muster a levelling strike before the half-time whistle.

Ancelotti opted against making any substitutions at the break and his faith in his starting cast was rewarded just five minutes after the break. Vinicius earned redemption following his first-half penalty miss as he flicked the ball into the roof of the net after Jude Bellingham's near-post header at a corner.

Unsurprisingly, the equaliser ignited the home crowd and the hosts finally started to up the tempo. Rodrygo's entrance before the hour mark helped sharpen Madrid's attacking play and Mbappe saw another curler fly just wide of the Valencia post as a winning goal appeared increasingly inevitable.

If it wasn't for the fine reflexes of Mamardashvili, Madrid would have found a likely winner with 20 minutes to spare. Mbappe picked out Federico Valverde after some neat work inside the penalty area and the Uruguayan's close-range strike was expertly repelled by the Georgian's outstretched palm.

Valencia sunk deeper into their own territory in the dying embers and Madrid grew increasingly exasperated, struggling to carve open many clear-cut opportunities as the clock ticked down. But even the most optimistic of travelling supporters would not have predicted a winner - well, for Los Che at least.

For once, it was Madrid who were on the wrong end of late drama in the capital, with Rafa Mir's excellent cross converted by Duro from six yards as Valencia secured their first away win of the season and their first victory at the Bernabeu in 17 years.

Check out the player ratings for Real Madrid 1-2 Valencia here.

Advantage Barcelona in the title race

Carlo Ancelotti was far from impressed / Denis Doyle/GettyImages

There was little to suggest that Saturday's fixture posed a serious threat to Madrid's title charge. Sure, Valencia are in much improved form since Corberan's arrival in the dugout but they were without victory in 14 away matches in La Liga and hadn't triumphed at the Bernabeu in almost two decades.

But Madrid can have few complaints about their sobering defeat. They were far from their swashbuckling best, especially in the final third where they struggled to gain any consistent momentum. Wasteful with the final ball and lethargic in their build-up play, it was a performance that Madrid would normally get away with - but not today.

Of course, Saturday's defeat puts their title defence in peril. Now three points behind rivals Barcelona - who can extend that to six points by beating Real Betis later in the day - Madrid have snookered themselves ahead of the run-in.

Even more pressure now falls on the trip to Barcelona in late April, although Madrid could find themselves even further behind top spot by then.

Vinicius fluffed his first-half penalty / Diego Souto/GettyImages

Los Blancos had penalties to thank during their Champions League last 16 second leg with local rivals Atletico Madrid, but spot kicks have proven a thorn in their side for much of the season. They have taken 15 outside of shootouts this term and have missed a third, with Bellingham, Mbappe and Vinicius having all failed from the spot.

Having blazed one over the crossbar during the aforementioned clash with Atletico last month, Vinicius lacked any power or conviction in Saturday's dreadful strike. The Brazil international - who has missed four of 12 career spot kicks - dribbled a pathetic effort towards Mamardashvili, who didn't even need to stretch to parry the shot.

Another penalty blunder raises more questions for Ancelotti regarding his designated taker, with Vinicius unlikely to be trusted with the next attempt. Does the responsibility return to Mbappe or Bellingham? Or do Madrid need to uncover a new spot kick specialist?

Nightmare preparation for Arsenal trip

Real Madrid travel to the Emirates on Tuesday / Diego Souto/GettyImages

Madrid's cohort of superstars played as though they already had one eye on Tuesday's Champions League trip to Arsenal. They likely expected to breeze by in second gear at home to Valencia and still triumph, keeping energy in reserve for the clash at the Emirates Stadium.

But Madrid were punished for their complacency and now must respond in north London. With their title bid fading, even more significance will now be placed on the Champions League, which remains the competition for the club's hierarchy and supporters.

Arsenal also slipped up against lesser opposition on Saturday, but that will offer Madrid little solace ahead of Tuesday's clash. Defeat to Valencia was the worst way to prepare for a mammoth encounter on the continent.