Real Madrid 2-0 Valencia: Los Blancos Win Puts Pressure On Barcelona - 7M sport

Real Madrid 2-0 Valencia: Los Blancos Win Puts Pressure On Barcelona

Posted Monday, April 19, 2010 by Goal.com

Real Madrid were too strong for a Valencia side, who fell victim to another La Liga loss in Madrid.
Real Madrid went into the game knowing they simply had to win. Three points would put Los Blancos just one behind Barcelona at the top of the league and keep the pressure on the Catalans. Valencia wanted to prove they could beat the best in Spain and were more than the best of the rest.

Real dominated large parts of the first half and they were rewarded with a goal. Valencia battled back just before half time but there was a clear difference in quality between the teams. Los Blancos pressed on and although Valencia got better in the second 45 they were no match for this team.

Real started the match in rampant form. Ronaldo was in the play as early as the third minute. The Portuguese cut in from the wing and looked to play a one-two with van der Vaart. However, the Dutchman’s ball was behind the world record expensive striker.

Van der Vaart then went close twice a few minutes later. He barged Ronaldo out of the way to deliver a beautiful cross, which was parried away by Cesar Sanchez in the Valencia goal. The ball found a way back to van der Vaart who sliced a shot across goal and wide.

Real were trying to dazzle Los Che quickly and early. It nearly worked. Marcelo advanced in the tenth minute, dodging past the full back and cutting back to van der Vaart. The midfield maestro leant back slightly and the ball flew over the bar.

Valencia were doing very well to soak up the pressure but it was still early on in the match. The frailty of this was exposed by Xabi Alonso. The former Liverpool man played a perfect pass into the path of Guti. The Madrid legend was probably thinking about scoring before Alba stole the ball away at the last moment.

Los Blancos were waiting to score. Ronaldo drifted out to the wing after a quarter of the match. He dodged a tackle and flew to the byline. He took one look up and pinged the ball into Guti who scuffed his effort wide of the far post.

Real got the lead they were looking for in the 26th minute. Guti fired a quick ball into the feet of Higuain who controlled and turned at the same time before smashing the ball into the bottom right had corner of the goal.

Los Che had no answer and were struggling. Higuain should have had his second just minutes later. Guti fed him in, he rounded the goalkeeper but was tackled by Bruno. The ball fell to van der Vaart but some how Sanchez got a hand on it to push the ball away.

It took until just after the half hour for Valencia’s first real chance. A rare passing move saw the ball played to Silva who pinged an accurate shot on goal. Casillas got down quickly to tip it behind for a corner. Mata and Alexis both had headers brilliantly saved by Casillas from the set piece.

Alonso and Ronaldo combined to create Real’s umpteenth chance of the half. Alonso won the ball well inside his own half. He advanced before playing wide to Ronaldo who cut in and shot quickly. Sanchez went down and smothered the ball before clearing.

Real picked up where they left off at the start of the second half. Guti played a lovely ball out to Marcelo, who had raced up on the left. All he had to do was power the ball beyond Sanchez but the goalkeeper made a strong save at his near post.

Valencia were always in the game while the lead was only one goal. Alonso gave the ball away in the 52nd minute. Joaquin pounced and passed it to Silva who knocked it onto Villa. The Valencia striker put too much on the ball as it sailed just over the bar.

Los Che were doing better with the ball when they had it. Their problem in the first half had been giving it away when they won it back. Banega got involved with Joaquin, playing a superb pass, which the winger pumped forward first time. Villa was not on the same page and ran completely the wrong way.

Real were still looking dangerous but Valencia were having more and more of the play. Vicente broke down the left inside the 65th minute. He scuffed a cross, which was half cleared into the path of Villa. He shot first time but the ball was blocked as the Valencia striker put his hands behind his head.

Ronaldo and Higuain should have put the match to bed as the game entered the last quarter. Higuain timed his run to beat the offside trap. He cut the ball back to Ronaldo who fired it straight into the arms of Sanchez.

Real were still capable of some brilliant football and Arbeloa was the next to get involved. The defender raced forward before cutting across an open goal. However, he played the ball too far behind Ronaldo who went mad at the former Liverpool man.

Silva had one of the best shots of the whole match as the game approached the final ten minutes. He was given plenty of space from 30 yards before smashing the ball against the upright angle of the goal. Casillas was rooted to the spot and had given up on trying to save it.

Ronaldo then bombed down the other end of the pitch. His pace and quick feet meant he eluded all challenges. He was at quite a tight angle but forced Sanchez to go down quickly and get something on the ball with both of his legs.

Real finally got their second goal, which arrived in the 78th minute. Marcelo made a textbook forward run from the full back slot before sliding the ball into the area. It rolled to the penalty spot where Ronaldo was waiting to slot it into the goal.

It was a blow, which saw Valencia heads drop and although they mounted some late pressure. The scale of the task before them in the last ten minutes was too great to over come.



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