Real Madrid’s La Liga title challenge is all but over after they stumbled to their second successive draw with a shock 1-1 tie at third-bottom Real Valladolid.
Los Blancos seemed to be heading for victory after Sergio Ramos’ fifth goal in four games, but they were stunned by a late leveller from Valladolid substitute Humberto Osorio and are now four points behind leaders Atletico Madrid with just two games remaining.
With Atletico set to face Barcelona on the final day of the season, Madrid need a freak set of results to claim the title while that meeting at the Nou Camp is set to become a momentous winner-takes-all decider.
To add to Madrid’s misery, Cristiano Ronaldo limped off early on with a thigh problem. Although it does not appear to be a serious injury, the Portuguese star’s increasing vulnerability to physical problems is a major concern with the Champions League final just over two weeks away.
Valladolid were the better team in the opening stages and should have taken the lead inside five minutes. A slick move resulted in left back Carlos Pena placing a perfectly delivered cross onto the head of front man Javi Guerra, who wastefully glanced his header wide of the right post.
Then came the setback of Ronaldo’s injury, with the Portuguese star ruefully holding his thigh as he headed to the sidelines to be replaced by Alvaro Morata.
Madrid continued to struggle, failing to exert any sustained attacking pressure while the hosts wasted another good opportunity as Antonio Rukavina advanced down the right and cut back a low cross to Oscar, who miscued a long way over the bar from 15 yards.
Ramos had already sent an acrobatic overhead volley over the top from a corner when another chance came his way.
Morata headed a corner from Angel Di Maria back across goal and towards Ramos on the edge of the six-yard box, but the defender mistimed his leap and somehow ended up sending his header in the direction of the corner flag.
He was much more accurate with his next opportunity, however. After Xabi Alonso was brought down on the edge of the box, Ramos took advantage of the absence of both regular free-kick takers – Ronaldo and the injured Gareth Bale – to crash a fierce right-footed effort over the wall and into the roof of the net.
The goal significantly settled Madrid and they were comfortably the better team for the remainder of the opening period, with Ramos remarkably again going close with a powerful header from Luka Modric’s corner on the brink of the interval.
The second period was closely contested and offered little in the way of clear chances until Guerra sent an overhead volley from Jeffren’s right wing cross inches wide.
With Madrid only attacking sporadically, Valladolid grew in confidence and they finally gained their reward when Alvaro Rubio’s corner was headed goalwards by Osorio and took a deflection off Asier Illlarramendi to leave Iker Casillas with no chance.
