Real Madrid headed to Estadio Mestalla knowing that a win over Valencia would put them top of La Liga heading into the midweek Clasico against Barcelona but they were held to a draw by a plucky Valencia side who almost held on for all three points.

The visitors started well but Los Che grew into the game as it went on, with Carlos Soler breaking the deadlock late on with his effort from inside the box. It wasn’t until almost the very last kick of the game that Real Madrid got their point as Thibaut Courtois won a header at an injury-time corner with Karim Benzema pouncing in the ensuing chaos to convert an equaliser.

This tactical analysis will consider the tactics of both Albert Celades’ Valencia and Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid. The tactics of both sides led to an intriguing tie for analysis which swayed in balance, with a point apiece seeming a fair result for both sides, come the final whistle, even if it leaves them both unsatisfied in La Liga.

If you want to read the full tactical breakdown of this match report, head over to totalfootballanalysis.com or click HERE


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