Hugo Duro’s dramatic injury-time winner stunned Real Madrid as Valencia secured a 2-1 victory at the Bernabeu, dealing a significant blow to Madrid’s La Liga title hopes.
With the match deep into injury time (95 minutes), Rafa Mir delivered a superb cross, which Duro met with a close-range header to give Valencia the win. The match had started with a goal from Mouctar Diakhaby, who rose highest to head in Andre Almeida’s cross and put Valencia in front.
Real Madrid had a golden opportunity to take control moments earlier when Vinicius Jr. was awarded a penalty after Cesar Tarrega fouled Kylian Mbappe in the box. However, Vinicius’s spot-kick was easily saved by Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, proving to be a costly miss.
Vinicius made amends shortly after the break, scoring a brilliant effort into the roof of the net to equalize for Madrid. Despite another chance for Mbappe, who stabbed an effort just wide, the French striker and his team couldn’t break the deadlock, leaving them frustrated.
The result leaves Real Madrid three points behind league leaders Barcelona, who will play Real Betis later on Saturday. Madrid’s penalty woes continue, having missed five penalties this season across all competitions, with only 11 converted from 16 attempts, marking their highest tally of misses in a single season since at least 2013-14.
In a further blow to Madrid, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois remains sidelined with a muscle injury, and Andriy Lunin felt discomfort in his leg during the win over Leganes. This allowed 19-year-old Fran Gonzalez to make his La Liga debut for Madrid, becoming the youngest goalkeeper to do so since Iker Casillas, who made his debut at 18 years and 115 days in September 1999.
For Valencia, it was a historic win, their first at the Bernabeu since 2008. Madrid now turn their attention to a crucial Champions League quarter-final tie, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side set to face Arsenal at the Emirates on Tuesday in the first leg.
