Real Madrid Stumbles 2-1 Against Valencia, Impacts La Liga Title Race

Real Madrid suffered a shocking 2-1 defeat at home to Valencia, significantly impacting their La Liga title ambitions. Despite dominating possession, Madrid could not capitalize on their chances, with Vinícius Júnior missing a penalty early in the match, saved by Valencia's Giorgi Mamardashvili. Valencia took the lead with a header from Mouctar Diakhaby, and although Vinícius equalized in the second half, Hugo Duro scored the decisive goal in injury time. This defeat leaves Madrid six points behind Barcelona, who could further extend their lead with a pending match against Real Betis. Coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged the loss as a major setback in their title defense, emphasizing the need to regroup quickly. Valencia's victory marks a significant improvement since they changed coaches, moving away from the relegation zone.