Real Madrid loses 2-1 to Valencia at home

Real Madrid suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Valencia, significantly impacting their La Liga title hopes just days before their Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal. After missing an early penalty, Vinicius Jr managed to equalize for Madrid in the second half, but Hugo Duro's late header clinched the victory for Valencia in stoppage time. The defeat leaves Real Madrid trailing Barcelona, who could extend their lead to six points with a win against Real Betis. Valencia's disciplined defense, bolstered by goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili's impressive performance, thwarted Madrid's attempts to regain control of the match. Coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed concern over his team's lackluster performance, especially with a crucial Champions League match on the horizon. The result has left Real Madrid needing to regroup quickly to stay competitive in both domestic and European competitions.