Real Madrid’s LaLiga title hopes suffered a devastating blow as Valencia claimed a 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu courtesy of a 95th-minute winner from Hugo Duro.
Valencia silenced the home crowd in the 15th minute when Mouctar Diakhaby turned home a corner from point-blank range two minutes after Vinicius Junior had seen a poor penalty saved.
Vinicius atoned for that error five minutes into the second half when he levelled matters, tapping in at the far post after a corner was flicked into his path.
Kylian Mbappe saw a string of chances go begging, but it was Duro who would incredibly have the final say as he headed beyond Fran Gonzalez to leave Madrid three points adrift of Barcelona, who play Real Betis later on Saturday.
Real Madrid v Valencia
Madrid looked set to make a flying start to proceedings when César Tárrega clipped Mbappe’s ankles, giving Vinicius a golden opportunity to make amends for his missed penalty in the Champions League last-16 clash with Atletico Madrid.
However, he failed to do so, Giorgi Mamardashvili diving to his left to keep out a tame strike.
And Madrid paid the price soon after when Diakhaby crashed home from Diego Lopez’s superb delivery from the right.
Diakhaby looked to have tuned an equaliser into his own net, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside against Mbappe, who then forced Mamardashvili to turn over the bar.
Madrid, though, found a response five minute into the second half as Bellingham turned Modric’s set-piece into the path of Vinicius, who had the easiest of tasks to equalise from two yards out.
21 – Real Madrid had not lost a home game in LaLiga with so many shots (21) since January 2019 against Real Sociedad (28). Surprise. pic.twitter.com/fpfcMyuCW4
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) April 5, 2025
Diakhaby drew a strong save from Gonzalez as Valencia continued to threaten from dead-ball deliveries, but Mbappe looked the most likely source of the game’s third goal.
He sent a side-footed effort narrowly wide after neat build-up involving Fran Garcia, and the France striker, who then nearly turned provider in the 71st minute as his cross found an unmarked Federico Valverde.
But Mamardashvili produced more heroics to deny the Uruguay international, and the Georgia goalkeeper’s defiance would ultimately be rewarded in a dramatic finish.
A Valencia counter-attack saw Lopez find Rafa Mir on the right-hand side, with a Madrid side who conceded twice to Leganes in their previous league outing and shipped four in a Copa del Rey thriller with Real Sociedad again proving vulnerable down the flanks.
Mir’s cross was perfect as he laid the ball on a plate for Duro to send Valencia seven points clear of the bottom three and leave Madrid with a mountain to climb in the title race.
