A Disappointing Draw for Real Madrid

Real Madrid 0 – 0 Valencia

What a match from Real Madrid and Valencia!  The air certainly teemed with electricity as the first and third place teams faced one another at the Santiago Bernabéu.  By no means was this anticipated as an easy match for either side, even with 30 points between them.  A draw or loss to Valencia would not pose well for Los Blancos as it would lessen the gap between them and current runner ups-slash-bitter rivals, FC Barcelona, for the La Liga title.  And as luck – or misfortune – would have it, that was the case tonight at the Bernabéu.  Most people would associate nil-nil matches as boring.  However, this match was fraught with many a heart attack giving moment – a fully entertaining match from beginning to end.

At the 4' minute mark, Cristiano Ronaldo aimed, took shot, and hit woodwork for the seventh time this season, as the ESPN2 commentators liked to point out.  The Portuguese international remained and stayed hungry for goal throughout the match, nothing resulted from his attempts, which all went wide, hit woodwork, or were cleared by Valencia's beast of a goalkeeper, Guaita.  Also aiming for goal were Karim Benzema and Ángel Di María, who had come on for Gonazalo "Pipita" Higuaín in the second half.

 

Benzema had the best opportunity to score against the visiting team at the 78', however, all attempts, including the header from a rebound, were saved.  As for Valencia, their most formidable shot, in my opinion, was the longshot from Tino Costa at the 54'.  Costa was some 30 yards away.  Casillas was nowhere near where he had to be, but thank goodness for woodwork.  Try as we did, doing everything possible for goal, luck was not on our side.  Both teams were almost evenly matched – great defense from Valencia, good attacking from Real Madrid.

The MOTM goes out to San Crossbar, for saving the many dangerous shots Valencia sent our way on behalf.  But in all seriousness, Valencia's Guaita was MOTM, with his superb goalkeeping skills.  This has been the first time Madrid failed to score at home in the league this season, something that manager José Mourinho will not be pleased about with El Clásico swiftly approaching.  Los Blancos went from a 10-point lead to four in a mere month.  Can they manage to pull out of this slump and regain footing?

The men face Atlético Madrid next this Wednesday, April 11^th, at the Vicente Calderon.  I'll be keeping my optimism up, hoping for some superb goals against our city rivals in this Derbi Madrileño.  Until then, keep the faith, Madridistas, and ¡Hala Madrid!

written by Gail Hidalgo