Real
Madrid's hopes of overhauling La Liga leaders Barcelona suffered a stinging
blow when they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Valencia on Saturday to slip
four points behind their arch rivals with two games left.
Fourth-placed
Valencia raced into a surprise 2-0 lead at the Bernabeu through goals from Paco
Alcacer and Javi Fuego before Real forward Cristiano Ronaldo had a penalty
saved by goalkeeper Diego Alves on the stroke of halftime.
Ronaldo,
Gareth Bale and Javier Hernandez had earlier struck efforts against the frame
of the goal and Real's Germany midfielder Toni Kroos had to be replaced by
Asier Illarramendi because of a suspected muscle injury.
Pepe
pulled a goal back for Real with a header from a corner 11 minutes into the
second half and Isco levelled with a superb curling shot six minutes from time
but Valencia held on in an action-packed finale.
It
was Real's second consecutive game without a win after the holders went down
2-1 at Juventus in Tuesday's Champions League semifinal, first leg, with the
return to come at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Barca
have 90 points after they won 2-0 at home to Real Sociedad earlier on Saturday,
with Real on 86 and champions Atletico Madrid 10 points further adrift in third
ahead of their game at Levante on Sunday.
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