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Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties for Real Madrid as they earned a crucial victory over Valencia at Mestalla to move within two points of their opponents.
Bale should have opened the scoring for fourth-place Real in the early stages but his attempted lofted half-volley was caught by the out-of-position Neto.
His strike partner Ronaldo did when he was brought down in the area by Martin Montoya after a quick breakaway, with the Portuguese forward slotting home from the spot in the 16th minute.
Montoya was at fault again when he barged into Karim Benzema and the referee pointed to the spot again, with Ronaldo brutally dispatching it past the helpless Neto.
(Image: AFP)
(Image: AFP)
Geoffrey Kondobia and Rodrigo both missed golden chances to equalise before half-time as Valencia tried to fight their way back into the game.
Santi Mina headed Valencia back into the game as he reached Dani Parejo’s corner and headed home.
Marcelo scored an excellent third for Madrid late on after fine interplay with substitute Marco Asensio and Toni Kroos hammered home a fourth to expand Madrid's lead at the end of a thrilling clash.
Here are the five key talking points from the game…
1. Spot king
(Image: REUTERS)
Cristiano Ronaldo is a fantastic penalty taker and proved it once again at Mestalla, sending Neto the wrong way from the spot to open the scoring and then slamming home a second the other side.
The first was Ronaldo’s 100th goal from a penalty for club and country in his career, and even though some like to hold it against him, deadliness from the spot is an important attribute.
(Image: Getty Images)
Just ask Lionel Messi, who missed a penalty in the Copa America final in 2016, which could have earned him his first major international trophy.
With his two penalties Ronaldo overtook Hugo Sanchez on having taken the most in La Liga - 72.
Ronaldo scored 61 of them, with an accuracy of 85%, whereas the Mexican, also a Real Madrid legend, missed 15 and had a 79% accuracy rating.
2. Montoya's mare
(Image: Getty Images)
Former Barcelona right-back Martin Montoya has been enjoying himself at Valencia.
Although he is the weakest link in the starting line up, he has still played his part in the club’s rise to third in the table.
However here he was fully exposed, conceding two penalties in the first half with amateurish fouls.
The first was a clumsy challenge on Ronaldo, who was poised to pull the trigger, while the second was even worse.
Montoya barged into the back of Benzema who was waiting for a cross, and referee Xavier Estrada Fernandez had no choice but to point to the spot again.
Valencia would be well advised to bring in another right-back in the final few days of the transfer window if they want to keep their position in the table.
3. BBC back online
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
Zinedine Zidane turned to the BBC trident of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano for the first time since April 23, and it paid dividends.
Injuries and suspensions has largely prevented him from deploying the three stars together since then, but his shift to a 4-4-2 has also contributed.
But with Madrid going through a dreadful spell the coach reverted to 4-3-3 and it livened up the attack.
Playing three forwards does leave them open at the back though and Valencia sliced through Madrid on various occasions, with only profligate finishing preventing them from taking full advantage.
4. Test of Valencia's mettle
(Image: Getty Images)
This was the first of four huge games for Valencia in the space of a fortnight, which will define their season.
On Thursday they travel to Camp Nou to face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, and then play second place Atletico Madrid in La Liga on Sunday.
That is followed by the second leg of the cup clash with Barcelona at Mestalla.
By that time we will see just how sturdy Marcelino’s side is, and whether they really can keep pace with the big dogs at the top of the Spanish league.
Thus far, without European action to worry about, Valencia have been excellent, but now the games are adding up and their squad is thin.
(Image: Getty Images)
(Image: Getty Images)
Here they were forced to play former Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin at centre-back, with Gabriel and Jeison Murillo injured, and Ruben Vezo suspended.
Striker Simeone Zaza was on the bench too after tiring himself out against Alaves in the cup quarter-final which went to penalties, and Rodrigo missed a huge chance which he would have put away.
By contrast Madrid rested Bale and Cristiano against Leganes (and paid the price for it with cup elimination), while Barcelona have a fit-again Philippe Coutinho raring to go.
5. Nothing for PSG to worry about
(Image: Getty Images)
Although the result looks excellent for Madrid, when Unai Emery and his PSG staff watch the tape of this they will not be afraid of taking on Los Blancos in the Champions League.
Madrid’s first two goals came from the spot after fouls from the dreadful Montoya, and they only produced a few other clear chances of note against a makeshift Valencia back-line.
Furthermore, with the likes of Neymar and Edinson Cavani up front, the French side will take advantage of Madrid’s weaknesses in defence far more than Valencia were able to here.
When 2-0 up Madrid should have been confident and calm, but they let Valencia back in the game and it ensured a nervy finale--before two late goals which distorted the scoreline further in Madrid's favour.
Emery’s team will find various weak points, including the defence’s lack of confidence in goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who tried to claim the ball on a couple of occasions but saw his defenders attempt to kick it away instead of heeding the stopper.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored two first half penalties for Real Madrid as they beat third-place Valencia at the Mestalla.
Ronaldo sent keeper Neto the wrong way for the first spot kick after he was fouled when put through on goal by Karim Benzema.
Benzema was then bundled over in the box after jumping for a header with Valencia's Martin Montoya, before Ronaldo doubled his and Madrid's tally.
Santi Mina pulled one back for the hosts in the second half and looked like they could get something out of the game.
But Marcelo made sure of the points for Real when he combined with Marco Asensio down the left to slide a shot past Neto for the third.
Toni Kroos then added the icing on the cake after a great backheel assist from Mateo Kovacic to wrap up all three points.
Valencia: Neto, Montoya, Coquelin, Garay, Lato, Guedes, Parejo, Kondogbia, Gaya, Mina, Rodrigo
Subs: Jaume, Maksimovic, Vidal, Andreas, Soler, Vietto, Zaza
Real Madrid: Navas, Carvajal, Nacho, Varane, Marcelo, Casemiro, Modric, Kroos, Bale, Ronaldo, Benzema
Subs: Casilla, Theo Hernandez, Lucas Vasquez, Llorente, Asensio, Kovacic, Mayoral
Penalty king Cristiano Ronaldo sunk Valencia with two first-half spot-kicks as Real Madrid won 4-1 at Mestalla.
Still sporting a black-eye from the second of the two goals he scored last weekend, he made it four goals in two league matches and with late strikes from Marcelo and Toni Kroos, Madrid are now just two points behind third-placed Valencia.
No one in La Liga history has taken as many penalties as Ronaldo now. He beat previous record holder Hugo Sanchez who scored 56 from his 71. Ronaldo has buried 61 of his 72.
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