VALENCIA HALT REAL MADRID

22-match winning run snapped

Valencia came from behind to snap Real Madrid’s winning streak at 22 games and blow the La Liga title race wide open with a 2-1 win at Mestalla on Sunday.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s first-half penalty had the visitors on course for a four-point lead at the top, but Valencia roared back after the break with goals from Antonio Barragan and Nicolas Otamendi to move back above Sevilla into fourth.

Roared on by a vociferous home support, Valencia started with the same intensity that had rocked Atletico Madrid and Barcelona on their visits to Mestalla previously this season.

However, they couldn’t convert that enthusiasm into chances and instead went behind on 19 minutes when Alvaro Negredo handled Gareth Bale’s flick on from Toni Kroos’s free-kick and Ronaldo duly stepped up to fire home his 33rd goal of the season from the penalty spot.

Bale had a great chance to restore Madrid’s lead when he galloped in behind the Valencia defence, however the Welshman was denied by a fine saving challenge from Otamendi.

And just moments later, the Argentine centre-back was the star at the other end of the pitch as he towered above Ramos to power a header high past Casillas.