Marcelo netted an 86th minute winner as Real Madrid moved three points clear at the top of La Liga with a 2-1 victory over Valencia in Saturday’s entertaining clash at the Bernabeu.
This was before the match between new leaders, Barcelona, and Espanyol same Saturday.
Dani Parejo cancelled out a Cristiano Ronaldo header to leave the two teams level entering the latter stages, but Marcelo’s curling effort ensured that title-chasing Los Blancos would record a vital win.
The visitors had a glorious chance to take the lead in the second minute when Mina, who capitalised on a poor defensive header from Ramos, broke into the Real Madrid box before testing Keylor Navas.
The ball then broke straight back to the Valencia forward, but his low effort hit the outside of the post.
Real Madrid’s first attempt on target came in the 12th minute when Benzema met a deep cross from Dani Carvajal, but the Frenchman’s header was straight into the arms of Los Che goalkeeper Diego Alves.
Valencia remained a threat on the counter-attack, however, and Orellana sent one just wide of the post in the 17th minute after finding space between Real Madrid’s two centre-backs.
A long-range Ronaldo free kick missed the Valencia crossbar in the 22nd minute, but the Portugal captain sent Real Madrid ahead with his 20th La Liga goal of the 2016-17 campaign five minutes later when he headed a brilliant Carvajal cross into the back of the net from close range.
Opportunities were few and far between in the latter stages of the first period, however, as Los Blancos entered the half-time break with just a one-goal advantage to show for their efforts.
Valencia had a half-chance to level the scores in the 52nd minute when Carlos Soler found some space inside the Real Madrid box before hooking the ball towards the far corner, but it just cleared Navas’s goal.
Real Madrid were then awarded a penalty in the 55th minute when Los Che captain Parejo clumsily felled Luka Modric inside the Valencia penalty box, moments after Benzema had rattled the post with a curling effort.
Ronaldo stepped up looking to double Real Madrid’s lead, but penalty specialist Alves made a brilliant save as Valencia stayed in the match with little over 30 minutes remaining in the Spanish capital.
Valencia incredibly levelled the scores in the 82nd minute when Parejo bent a wonderful free kick into the top corner, stunning the Bernabeu into silence with little under 10 minutes of football remaining in the Spanish capital.
The response from Real Madrid was strong, however, and the home side regained the lead in the 86th minute courtesy of a brilliant individual goal from Marcelo, who ensured that his team would move three points clear of Barcelona ahead of their trip to Catalan rivals Espanyol on Saturday night.
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