Late Drama As Real Extend Unbeaten Record To 21 Matches
03 March, 2024
La Liga leaders Real Madrid extended their unbeaten run to 21 matches after they came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Valencia on Saturday evening.
LaLiga
Result: Valencia 2-2 Real Madrid
Date: 02 March 2024
Venue: Mestalla
Madrid were boosted by the return of Jude Bellingham from injury, as one of the three changes from the win over Sevilla, that also included Dani Carvajal and Eduardo Camavinga.
Real Madrid drew 2-2 with Valencia, extending their unbeaten streak to 21 LaLiga matches. Vinicius Junior scored twice in a comeback from two goals down, with Jude Bellingham returning from injury. Late drama ensued with a VAR review overturning a Valencia penalty and Bellingham's disallowed goal.
Los Blancos settled into their passing rhythm early on and had their first chance on 17 minutes after Camavinga, unmarked in the box, headed a cross by Carvajal straight at goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Valencia absorbed the pressure and were effective on a counter-attack just before the half-hour mark Hugo Duro headed home a cross by Fran Perez.
Los Che took a shock 2-0 lead just three minutes later after Roman Yaremchuk intercepted a bad back pass by Carvajal and rounded goalkeeper Andriy Lunin before scoring into an empty net. Carlo Ancelotti's men were fired up after that and Vinicius Junior finally reduced the deficit on the stroke of half-time with a strike from a rebound after Carvajal's shot took a deflection in the box.
Madrid started the second stanza on the front foot as ten minutes later Bellingham came close to equalising with a low strike that produced a reflex save from Mamardashvili.
Valencia were not lying down as on the hour-mark Duro had a chance to restore a two-goal lead with a first-time shot in the box that was kept out by Lunin using his legs.
Ancelotti made a tactical and attacking change on 73 minutes, as he brought on Joselu in place of Camavinga.
After sustained pressure, Vinicius Junior eventually levelled matters three minutes later and completed his brace with a bouncing header at the back post after a cross by Brahim Diaz.
The game was on the edge in the dying minutes, with both sides not disciplined, giving away free-kicks and collecting yellow cards.
Valencia were consequently awarded a penalty in stoppage time after Duro went down in between two Madrid players in the box but after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, the referee reversed his decision.
The sides shared the spoils in the end although there was late drama when Bellingham nodded in what he thought was the winning goal, but the referee had already blown for full-time before the cross went in.
Source: www.snl24.com
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