Valencia 2-1 Real Madrid: LaLiga result, match report
Cristiano Ronaldo's header was in vain as early goals from Simone Zaza and Fabián Orellana saw leaders Real leave Mestalla empty-handed. Tenerife vs Getafe: Playoff Final
Simone Zaza and Fabián Orellana netted in the first eight minutes to blow the La Liga title race wide open as Valencia beat leaders Real Madrid 2-1 on Wednesday.
Zaza stunner, Orellana put Valencia two to good
Fresh from opening his Valencia account on Sunday, striker Zaza was again on target with a sensational volley on the turn to put Los Che ahead.
Fellow January recruit Orellana then rounded off a flowing counter-attack with a low finish under Keylor Navas, before Cristiano Ronaldo halved the deficit.
Cristiano pulls one back on stroke of half time
With just a minute remaining until half time, the Portuguese forward met Marcelo's cross with a towering header that keeper Diego Alves was helpless to stop.
Real head coach Zinedine Zidane introduced Gareth Bale off the bench in just his second appearance after a three-month injury lay-off for the final half hour.
And the 27-year-old Welshman nearly rescued a point for Los Merengues when his header from point-blank range was blocked by Enzo Pérez a minute from time.
Real a point clear with one more game in hand
Defeat at Mestalla leaves Real still just a point clear of second-placed Barcelona and now with only one game in hand over their championship rivals.