Real Madrid 2 - Valencia 3

Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Cannavaro, Marcelo; Gago, Guti; Sneijder, Baptista (Robben 62'), Robinho (Higuaín 77'); Raúl. 4-2-3-1.
Valencia: Hildebrand; Miguel, Raúl Albiol, Marchena (Iván Helguera 32'), Caneira; Maduro, Banega (Baraja 64'); Arizmendi, David Silva, Mata (Morientes 64'); David Villa. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Madrid: Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Gago, Baptista, Robinho for Miguel Torres, Heinze, Diarra, Drenthe, Soldado / Valencia: Caneira for Moretti.

Goals:
0-1. 33. David Villa. Ran on to David Silva pass and steered shot wide of Casillas.
1-1. 34. Raúl. Got above defence to head Robinho cross past Hildebrand.
2-1. 55. Raúl. Picked up Guti through ball and fired low shot inside near post.
2-2. 66. David Villa (penalty). After Cannavaro pushed over Silva inside area.
2-3. 88. Arizmendi. Cut in from right and placed shot past keeper from wide angle.

The gap at the top of the table was reduced to four points after leaders Real Madrid lost 2-3 to Valencia on Sunday evening. Ronald Koeman's side were on a roll after beating Barcelona midweek to reach the Spanish cup final, and David Villa gave them the lead with just over half an hour gone after Silva put him through. Both sides had had chances before that, but a minute after the opener, Raúl headed home Robinho's cross to square the match.

Robinho and Guti went close either side of half time, and ten minutes after the restart Raúl got his second of the night after picking up Guti's pass. Hildebrand had to be on his toes to keep out Sneijder, Guti and Sergio Ramos, but Villa levelled the scores again from the penalty spot after Cannavaro fouled Silva inside the area.

David Silva and Villa both tested Casillas soon after, but Hildebrand was the busier of the two keepers, with top class saves from Sneijder and Higuaín. And when he was beaten Albiol made an important clearance off the line from Higuaín. The game appeared to be heading for a draw though when Arizmendi ran on to Miguel's long ball to cut past Cannavaro and beat Casillas for a third time, his first goal in over a year but one of the most important of his career. Koeman's plans seem to be coming together at last!