Real Madrid’s defeat against Valencia has sent shockwaves through their La Liga title hopes.
In what felt like a must-win match, the team fell short once again—not just on the scoreboard but in terms of performance, decision-making, and individual displays.
And as Barcelona continue to gather momentum, despite their 1-1 draw against Real Betis, Madrid may have handed over the title race unless something dramatic unfolds.
On that note, here are three major talking points from Los Blancos’ costly setback at Santiago Bernabeu.
Lack of stability and squad management is catching up
Real Madrid’s defeat to Valencia felt like more than just a bad day at the office—it was the product of months of risky decision-making, injuries, and poor squad rotation catching up with them.
A long season like this, with three major competitions to fight for, was never going to be forgiving.
Yet Madrid entered the campaign without Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao available for extended periods and seemingly underestimated how costly their absence would become.
Madrid’s backline against Valencia looked vulnerable and unorganised at times, with no true defensive leader taking control.
Meanwhile, Ancelotti’s strategy of using players like Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni as utility men has created more confusion than balance.
Both are naturally strong in their preferred roles, but shifting them to unfamiliar positions has disrupted their rhythm and limited their impact.
The idea that Madrid could compete across all fronts with constant tactical experimentation and makeshift formations was ambitious, if not naive.
Against a well-drilled Valencia side, the lack of tactical cohesion was evident. The team looked disjointed, slow in transition, and reactive rather than proactive—traits uncharacteristic of a side aiming to win La Liga.
Penalty-taking duties need a serious rethink
The decision to hand Vinicius Jr. the responsibility of being Real Madrid’s primary penalty taker is now under serious scrutiny.
Against Valencia, when the pressure was highest, Vinicius missed from the spot—an error that could prove decisive in the title race.
While he has evolved into one of Madrid’s most important attacking players, penalty-taking requires a different set of attributes altogether: composure, precision, and above all, mental fortitude.
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