By Daily Sports on February 23, 2017
Leaders Real Madrid suffered just their second La Liga loss of the season in a shock 1-2 loss to Valencia at Mestalla.
Former West Ham striker Simone Zaza opened the scoring for the hosts with a spectacular strike and Fabian Orellana doubled the lead before Cristiano Ronaldo pulled a goal back.
Ronaldo could have snatched a point late on, but failed to hit the target with his looping header.
Zinedine Zidane’s side remain one point clear of Barcelona with a game in hand.
Italian Zaza, 25, failed to score in 11 appearances for the Hammers and broke down in tears at the weekend after his first goal since May.
His fourth minute strike against Real at the Mestalla was brilliant, spinning in the area and shooting into the top corner.
Just five minutes later, Orellana finished off a flowing counter-attack, but just before the break Ronaldo’s towering header – on his 700th club appearance in his career – from Marcelo’s cross gave Los Blancos hope.
Welshman Gareth Bale came off the bench for just his second appearance after a three-month injury layoff for the final half hour and nearly scored, but his point-blank header was blocked by Enzo Perez.
Victory allows struggling Valencia to move up to 13th in the table, with boss Voro their third manager of the season.
Coach of Madrid, Zinedine Zidane said after the match: “We lost the game in the first ten minutes. We moved the ball well, played our game and created chances to score. We made mistakes and they scored twice. We then had 80 minutes to get back into the game, we did that but we were lacking in many areas today. We had the chance to put points on the board and we’ve not managed to do that. They were very much together in their play, tightened up well and got the better of us up top.” (Victor Okoye/NAN)
•Photo shows Valencia striker Simone Zaza.
Source Daily Sports
Posted February 23, 2017
You may also like...
Why I remain in Wenger plan –Iwobi
Mane Sets Sights On Premier League And Champions...
Ivory Coast grab former Belgium coach
Solskjaer Urges United To Find Cutting Edge Against...
Pele ‘immortal’, says football’s ruling body FIFA
Super Eagles target 9th victory over Algeria
NFF, Fulham back Bassey after racist abuse
Bolaji, four others for Para Badminton International C’ship
Nigeria to host 13th ECOWAS African Wrestling tournament
U-20 AFCON: F’Eagles to resume camping March 10
Rivers Saga: Don’t Beg Wike, We Will Show FG – Rivers Elders To Fubara
Over 100 racers for 2025 Ondo Auto Rally
NPFL: Remo open 12-point gap after Plateau win
Court Judgement: Adeyanju Commends Fubara, Says Wike’s Personal Interest Must Not Prevail
Supreme court judgement on Rivers state setting Nigeria’s democracy on a dangerous path – Obi warns Tinubu
2025 Session of the Ondo Auto Rally to Rev Up Ilara-Mokin on April 19.
Osimhen keen on Old Trafford switch
Isaac: Son of ex-Flying Eagles captain, Promise, following father’s footsteps
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (55,333 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,480 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,505 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,142 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,108 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,100 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,910 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,456 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,545 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,207 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,645 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,070 views)