Valencia Smash Three Past Hopeless Real Madrid
Barcelona will win the league if they beat Villarreal tomorrow, after Real Madrid were thrashed by Valencia.
Cesar continued in goal for Valencia, while Joaquin started on the right wing ahead of Pablo Hernandez.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, brought Javi Garcia in for Lassanna Diarra, who was unwell.Both these sides conceded nine between them last week, and the awful defending was on show from the start, with both sides creating openings straight from kick-off. There appeared to be acres in midfield, and Ruben Baraja nearly opened the scoring after five minutes, only to see his header from a David Villa cross saved on the line by Iker Casillas.
For all intents and purposes, there was no midfield in this game, with both sides bombing forward at will. On 10 minutes, Sergio Ramos crossed from the right for Marcelo, but the Brazilian’s right footed shot was blocked by Raul Albiol. Valencia were perhaps seeing more of the ball, but Real Madrid, and Robben in particular, were especially dangerous on the counter.
As the half wore on, Valencia began to assume control, with David Silva and Juan Mata on the left causing plenty of problems. It was the left flank that eventually provided the breakthrough, as Juan Mata came back to haunt his old club.
Receiving the ball on the left wing, David Silva volleyed it in to Villa in the box, who put Mata through with a sublime pass. There was still a lot of work to do, but the youngster made it look easy with a powerful finish past Casillas from a tight angle.
Real Madrid’s defending was a shambles, and minutes after the first goal, Valencia launched a 4 on 2 attack, with Mata again at the center of things. He found Villa to his right, but El Guaje’s shot from just outside the box flew wide of the far post. The signs were ominous, and Valencia duly increased their lead minutes later.Picking the ball up on the left, David Silva rode forward mysteriously unchallenged, before unleashing a low shot towards Casillas’ near post. It didn’t appear to pose too much of a threat, but the keeper’s faint touch was not enough to prevent the ball from trickling into the net. A rare mistake from the Real Madrid custodian, and the home team had a two goal lead.
Los Merengues showed no signs of improvement, as Valencia continued to press forward with ease. On the edge of half-time, Mata nearly bagged a second, but his shot from distance was tipped around the post by Casillas.
Thus Valencia went into the break two goals ahead, with their only regret perhaps being that the margin was not greater. The second period started in similar fashion, with Valencia attacking down both wings without much opposition. On 48 minutes, Joaquin made a fool out of both Gabriel Heinze and Fernando Gago on the right before crossing to Villa, but the striker uncharacteristically blasted over from six yards out.
The home side were toying with the visitors, and they nearly scored a spectacular goal on 55 minutes. Baraja played the ball in to Villa, who back-heeled the ball first time back into his path, but the midfielder could only blast well over the bar. David Silva was then withdrawn due to a minor knock, to be replaced by Michel.
On the hour mark, Juande Ramos made his first switch, introducing Rafael Van Der Vaart for the ineffective Javi Garcia. Unai Emery, meanwhile, took Joaquin off, and replaced him with Pablo Hernandez. Real Madrid were enjoying slightly more possession, but they still looked unlikely to create a goal at the end of it.
Valencia were still looking dangerous on the break, and they were left wondering how they didn’t have a third on 65 minutes, when Pablo Hernandez’s cross sailed through the six yard box without anyone getting a touch. They would not have to wait long though, as Ruben Baraja pulled a rabbit out of the hat.
Receiving the ball on the right, Pablo Hernandez chipped a ball to Baraja just outside the box. To everyone’s surprise, he unleashed an unstoppable left footed volley to send the ball flying into the bottom corner of the net before Casillas had a chance to see it. It was the final blow to Real Madrid’s chances in this match, and quite possibly the title race.
The only matter left to be resolved was whether Valencia could add more goals to their tally, as they continued to push forward, seemingly at will. With fifteen minutes left, Juan Mata was withdrawn after a stellar night against his former club, as Vicente came on.The sub almost had an instant impact as he played a sublime through ball for Villa, but Christoph Metzelder got back in time to tackle just as the striker was shaping to shoot. Marcelo was then replaced by Royston Drenthe, mainly to ensure that the Brazilian didn’t pick up a second yellow card, as he was threatening to do.
On 86 minutes, Vicente nearly found the fourth, when his hopeful shot from the left was touched onto the post by Casillas, who was having a poor game. That proved to be the final chance of the game, as Valencia cruised to a 3-0 win.
Barcelona, therefore, can now mathematically seal the title with a win agains Villarreal tomorrow. Valencia, meanwhile, will hang on to fourth place for another week.
Valencia 3-0 Real Madrid
Mata 28
Silva 32
Baraja 67
Valencia: Cesar – Miguel, Albiol, Maduro, Alexis – Marchena, Baraja, Joaquin, Silva (Michel 55) – Mata (Vicente 76), Villa
Real Madrid: Casillas – Ramos, Cannavaro, Metzelder, Heinze – Javi Garcia (Van Der Vaart 57), Gago, Marcelo (Drenthe 82) – Robben, Raul, Higuain
Yellow Cards: Javi Garcia 25, Gago 26, Silva 34, Alexis 36, Marchena 63, Marcelo 80
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