Real Madrid recovery halted by three Valencia penalties and own-goal
Real Madrid were thrashed 4-1 at struggling Valencia on Sunday as Carlos Soler scored a hat-trick of penalties to improve further doubts over La Liga's reigning champions.
Madrid took the lead through Karim Benzema but presented Valencia with four gifts at Mestalla, including three spot-kicks and an own-goal scored by Raphael Varane, to fall to another surprise defeat.
This is the first-time Madrid have conceded four goals since letting in five against Barcelona in October 2018 and puts the brakes on their recovery that had followed a rocky commence to the season.
After back-to-back losses to Cadiz and Shakhtar Donestsk last month, Zinedine Zidane's side seemed to have turned a corner with wins over Barca, Huesca and Inter Milan.
Yet this result puts the pressure back on ahead of the international break, with Madrid now fourth in the table, four points behind early leaders Real Sociedad.
A disappointing night also got worse when Benzema was forced off late on using what appeared as if a groin injury.
Valencia, meanwhile, started your day in 17th after enduring a nightmare commence to the campaign, on the trunk of a transfer window which saw them sell five key players and neglect to replace some of them.
A stirring victory though pushes Javi Gracia's synergy to ninth and could prove a turning point within their season.
There is certainly an factor of fortune in Valencia's goals, all of them unusual and some of these bizarre.
But Soler did brilliantly to beat Thibaut Courtois 3 x, particularly having missed his first attempt, that was retaken after the Belgian came off his line.
Madrid were also without Casemiro following the Brazilian tested positive for coronavirus but a heavy loss continues a worrying trend of defensive vulnerability.
Solidity was the main element to them winning the title last season nonetheless they are actually seven matches with out a single clean sheet.
The first half fired up two decisions that went Valencia's way but Madrid could have few complaints.
They took the lead when Benzema unleashed from the edge of the region but conceded a penalty when Jose Luis Gaya's cross struck the arm of Lucas Vazquez.
Chaos followed as Soler's penalty was saved by Courtois and his rebound returned off the post to Yunus Musah, who finished on the half-volley.
Replays showed Musah had entered the box too early but Courtois was also off his line, making his save unlawful and handing Soler a retake.
He made no mistake at the next attempt and then Valencia taken in front when Varane skewed a cross towards his own-goal and got tangled with Courtois while wanting to clear.
The ball was demonstrated to have crossed the line while Valencia were lucky to escape punishment for a tackle on Marcos Asensio by Denis Cheryshev in the build-up.
Madrid had work to do but Valencia started the next half stronger, Lee Kang-In hitting the post before two more penalties were awarded.
Marcelo wrapped his foot around Maxi Gomez in the area before Sergio Ramos tackled Musah and as the ball popped up, Madrid's captain knocked it away with his left hand.
Soler stepped up for this third and fourth spot-kicks of the match and scored both to complete the defending champions' misery.
