Real Madrid’s grip on the LaLiga title race slipped through their fingers as Vinícius Júnior’s missed penalty and a last-gasp Hugo Duro header handed Valencia a dramatic 2-1 upset at the Santiago Bernabéu.
In a game full of missed chances and mounting frustration, Madrid’s dominance on the ball meant little. Despite 70% possession and a flurry of attacking waves, they found no way past Giorgi Mamardashvili’s inspired goalkeeping except once. The Georgian shot-stopper was simply relentless, denying Vinícius from the spot and frustrating Kylian Mbappé time and again.
The first big moment came early when Mbappé won a penalty in the 12th minute. But just as he did against Atlético in the Champions League, Vinícius delivered a tame, poorly placed effort that Mamardashvili saved comfortably. Within minutes, Madrid’s misery deepened. Mouctar Diakhaby rose to nod home André Almeida’s corner, sending the travelling Valencia fans into raptures.
A brief reprieve seemed to follow when Diakhaby inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, only for VAR to intervene and chalk it off for offside. Madrid kept pushing. Vinícius finally made amends in the 50th minute, glancing home from a corner to level the score.
But Madrid’s pressure failed to yield a winner. Instead, Valencia landed the knockout punch deep into stoppage time. Hugo Duro’s clinical header on a counter sealed the hosts’ fate and handed Los Che their first away win of the league season.
“It’s a bitter result,” admitted Carlo Ancelotti. “We created a lot and came close several times, but it just wouldn’t go in. It’s frustrating but not down to attitude.”
With Barça holding a game in hand and three points clear, the title pendulum may now be swinging away from the Bernabéu. For Madrid, the margin for error just got slimmer.
