Cristiano Ronaldo levelled in stoppage time as Real Madrid were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Valencia on Sunday.
Jeremy Mathieu's close-range header left the visitors ahead at the interval, but Sergio Ramos levelled just before the hour mark to leave the two La Liga rivals on terms.
Valencia regained the lead through Dani Parejo six minutes later, but Ronaldo's close-range finish late on secured a share of the spoils for the capital outfit.
The result means that Madrid remain third in the table, two points behind second-placed Barcelona and five behind leaders Atletico Madrid, who have both played one game more than Carlo Ancelotti's side.
Here, Sports Mole dissects the 90 minutes of action between the two Spanish rivals.
Match statistics
Real Madrid
Shots: 23
On target: 11
Possession: 57%
Corners: 7
Fouls: 5
Valencia
Shots: 6
On target: 5
Possession: 43%
Corners: 1
Fouls: 7
Was the result fair?
There is no question that Valencia, due to their energy and adventure, deserved to take something from the match this evening. However, it is difficult to argue that Madrid did not deserve at least a point due to the number of chances that they created.
The statistics indicate that Los Blancos had the majority of the play and while that was the case, Valencia did more than enough to secure a point from their visit to the capital. In truth, it would have been unjust if there was a loser this evening and therefore a draw was just about correct when reviewing the match as a whole.
Real Madrid's performance
Ancelotti's side entered the match knowing that a draw for Barcelona and a defeat for Atletico Madrid this weekend had blown the title race wide open. The capital outfit bossed proceedings in the early exchanges and, but for some lacklustre finishing and smart goalkeeping from Diego Alves, might have taken a one or two-goal lead into the interval.
Poor marking from a set piece allowed Valencia to take the lead, however, and the visitors certainly grew in the second half. Ancelotti made a number of changes to his XI from the Champions League clash with Bayern Munich last week, but the likes of Isco and Asier Illarramendi struggled to influence proceedings, while Karim Benzema also had a disappointing evening.
That said, Ronaldo had enough chances to score five or six times himself and, on another night, it might have been a comfortable three points for the home side. It wasn't really nerves that played a part for Madrid, rather tiredness after what has been a demanding few weeks across three competitions. A point is not what they would have wanted, but it could prove to be a vital one at the end of the season.
Valencia's performance
Valencia boss Juan Antonio Pizzi admitted in the build-up that his players were still hurting following their last-minute Europa League semi-final elimination to Sevilla last week, but he got a serious response from his side this evening. Los Che took a one-goal lead into the interval and it might have been more had Parejo not hit the crossbar with a close-range header.
The visitors needed their goalkeeper Alves to be in fine form this evening, but Mathieu and Ricardo Costa must also be credited for their performances in defence. Both centre-backs had to concede serious amounts of pace to the Madrid attack, but used all their experience to close the space in the final third.
Parejo and Sofiane Feghouli were also particularly influential in the second period as they threatened time and time again on the counter. It did appear that they would hold on for a famous three points, but ultimately they were made to pay for dropping too deep. That said, before the start, Pizzi would certainly have taken a point from this match as he switches his focus to next season.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Diego Alves: The Valencia stopper might have conceded twice this evening, but he was in brilliant form. The Brazilian has only just returned from a long-term injury, but it looked as if he had never been away.
For long spells it was Alves against Ronaldo and, while the latter scored a late equaliser, he was frustrated for long spells by the experienced goalkeeper. The 28-year-old has long been regarded as one of the best shot-stoppers in La Liga, but his distribution and handling were also of the very highest order at the Bernabeu.
Biggest gaffe
Ultimately, missed opportunities cost Madrid the chance to pick up all three points this evening. Ronaldo levelled late on for the home side with a spectacular flick, but he had numerous chances throughout the 90 minutes.
Perhaps the Portuguese's best opportunity arrived late on when he weaved into the Valencia box before facing up to Alves, but his effort was straight into the arms of the stopper. That said, it is difficult to be too critical of a player that has scored 50 times in 45 games this season.
Referee performance
Madrid felt that they should have had a penalty shortly after Parejo had scored Valencia's second when right-back Joao Pereira appeared to handle an Angel di Maria cross inside the box, but referee Clos Gomez was not interested and instead booked the Argentine for dissent.
Aside from that incident, it was a fairly straight-forward 90 minutes for the official. He awarded just the four yellow cards - all of which were issued in the second period - while he was not seen for long spells, which is always a good sign for a referee.
What next?
Real Madrid: Los Blancos will move two points behind La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid if they beat Real Valladolid at the Jose Zorrilla on Wednesday.
Valencia: Los Che return to league action away to Levante next weekend.
Matt Law
