Football

Guedes and Garay goals hand Zidane’s Real Madrid NINTH La Liga defeat of season


ZINEDINE ZIDANE suffered his first defeat since retaking the reins at Real Madrid as Goncalo Guedes and Ezequiel Garay handed Valencia a 2-1 victory at the Mestalla.

The Frenchman, 46, had won both games in charge since returning to the Bernabeu dugout to replace former team-mate Santiago Solari last month.

 Karim Benzema's late goal could not prevent Real Madrid losing 2-1 at Valencia

AFP or licensors

Karim Benzema’s late goal could not prevent Real Madrid losing 2-1 at Valencia
 It was Los Blancos' ninth La Liga defeat of the season and their first since Zinedine Zidane returned to the club

Reuters

It was Los Blancos’ ninth La Liga defeat of the season and their first since Zinedine Zidane returned to the club

But his 100 per cent record was brutally wiped away as Real fell to their ninth LaLiga loss of the season.

Guedes gave Valencia – unbeaten in the league since January 5 and now just one point off the Champions League places – the lead ten minutes before half-time.

And that appeared to prove the difference between the sides but former Real defender Garay, who made 31 appearances for Los Blancos between 2008 and 2011, headed home seven minutes from time to seal the points.

Karim Benzema grabbed his Real side a consolation in the third minute of injury time but there was no time left to find an equaliser.

Gareth Bale started on the bench while Isco, who scored in wins over Celta Vigo and Huesca, was also dropped.

PLAYERS AND POINTS DROPPED

Thibaut Courtois was not even in the squad as fan-favourite Keylor Navas took the place of Zidane’s son Luca between the sticks – although the Costa Rican should have done better to deny Guedes.

Valencia had a penalty appeal turned down when the VAR backed up Santiago Jaime’s on-field decision that the ball hit Sergio Ramos’ chest and not his hand.

The hosts went ahead almost immediately afterwards, though, as Guedes collected the ball inside the area from Carlos Soler before firing past Navas at his near post.

Kevin Gameiro, Geoffrey Kondogbia and Rodrigo all missed the target with good chances as Real Madrid looked in disarray before the half-time whistle saved them and halted the onslaught.

Navas denied Soler in the second half before Rodrigo skipped past a couple of challenges but failed to hit the target.

With an hour gone and Real chasing the game, Zidane did eventually turn to Bale and Isco but it was Valencia who looked the more likely to grab the second goal.

And that’s exactly what they did when Garay haunted his former club by heading in at the back post with seven minutes to go, but in truth Valencia should have been well out of sight by then.

Benzema headed in Bale’s corner but it proved too little, too late as Zidane’s side remain 13 points behind league leaders Barcelona and five off city rivals Atletico Madrid.

 Goncalo Guedes opened the scoring when he fired into the near corner after 35 minutes

AP:Associated Press

Goncalo Guedes opened the scoring when he fired into the near corner after 35 minutes
 Former Real Madrid defender Ezequiel Garay made it 2-0 with just seven minutes remaining

Getty Images – Getty

Former Real Madrid defender Ezequiel Garay made it 2-0 with just seven minutes remaining
 Valencia are unbeaten in the league since January 5 and are now just one point off the Champions League places

Getty Images – Getty

Valencia are unbeaten in the league since January 5 and are now just one point off the Champions League places
Real Madrid to begin £500m stadium upgrade at end of the season





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