Are Real Madrid about to throw the title away?

Cristiano Ronaldo can’t hide his disappointment at Valencia. Image via Getty

A point clear at the top of the table with two games in hand, Barcelona thrashed in the Champions League, you could forgive Real Madrid feeling a little smug, but the title favourites have had the grins well and truly wiped off their faces by Valencia.

Madrid blow chance to extend lead

Incredibly it was Simone Zaza who sent them on their way to defeat, yes the same Simone Zaza who seemed to have spent most of the season wondering where the goal was.

The former West Ham flop served his critics a rather stunning piece of humble pie with a gorgeous strike to make it 1-0. Munir El Haddadi fizzed the ball in from the right, Zaza with his back to goal controlled it, turned and smashed the ball into the top corner to give Valencia the lead.

Five minutes later Fabian Orellana finished a quick counter to make it 2-0. Real Madrid were two down with just nine minutes on the clock. Valencia fans were rubbing their eyes in delight, Madridistas left praying for a comeback.

With over 80 minutes to play it was a huge test of Madrid’s title ambitions, win and move four points clear of Barcelona and still with a game in hand, but one they ultimately failed.

Cristiano Ronaldo pulled one back but it was not enough. Zinedine Zidane threw on Gareth Bale, but it was not enough. With minutes to go and in desperate search of an equaliser he threw Sergio Ramos up front, Keylor Navas came up for a corner but still Valencia held on.

Leaders have become travel sick

Madrid remain top, but just by a single point, and make no mistake Wednesday’s defeat will have hurt them. It’s also more significant than just a single defeat for Los Blancos have now won just one of their last five games away from home in La Liga.

Up next? The small matter of a trip to Villarreal who have not been beaten at home by Barcelona, Sevilla or Atletico Madrid this season – indeed they beat Diego Simeone’s side 3-0.

While Barcelona’s shortcoming have been well-documented in recent weeks, all had been looking rosy for Madrid, particularly with the return of Gareth Bale through injury,

Yet the club are wobbling, they have now lost more games in 2017 than they did all year, last year. And it’s only March. There are still some tricky games to come, Madrid have to go to Athletic Bilbao while Atletico, Barcelona and Sevilla must all travel to the Bernabeu. They still have to play Valencia again as well. Zaza must be licking his lips.

There’s also that final game in hand, the clash at Celta that was postponed due to bad weather. The two clubs’ packed fixture lists means a date is still to be confirmed and it could have a huge bearing on where the title ends up.

Celta have already beaten Barcelona 4-3 at home this season, but have also been thrashed 3-0 by Sevilla and 4-0 by Atletico Madrid. Put simply, expect goals but pretty much anything could happen.

Same old story for Madrid

There’s also a sense Madrid are not learning from their mistakes. Speaking after the defeat to Valencia, Marcelo braved the TV cameras and gave his view on where his side must improve.

“We started the game very badly. We are guilty of that. But we must learn from our mistakes,” said the Brazilian. Thing is, he said pretty much exactly the same thing after the loss to Sevilla – lessons are clearly not being learned.

Zidane, meanwhile, hinted at complacency within the ranks telling reporters: “We must not think that just by being on the pitch we will win the game.”

He’s right and Madrid must not think the title is won just yet either. It isn’t, and while they remain 1/2 favourites to clinch a first title since 2012 Wednesday’s defeat will have given the chasing pack a huge and unexpected boost.

Madrid face another challenge at the weekend at Villarreal, while elsewhere Barcelona travel to Atletico Madrid in a mouth-watering clash while Sevilla have a derby date with Betis. Make no mistake, this thrilling title race still has many more twists and turns to come. Don’t go anywhere.