Madrid, Valencia in 2-2 stalemate at Bernabeu
MADRID (AP): REAL MADRID needed a late goal by Marco Asensio to salvage a 2-2 draw against Valencia in its home opener in the Spanish league yesterday.
Asensio scored the second of his two goals from a free kick in the 83rd minute at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
The disappointing result left the defending champions two points behind Real Sociedad, Barcelona, and Leganes – the three teams that have won their first two matches.
Asensio scored Madrid’s first goal 10 minutes into the match with a neat run through the middle after a defensive blunder by Valencia. Asensio calmly finished with a well-placed leftfooted shot into the left corner.
TOO MUCH FOR GOALKEEPER
His second goal came only six minutes after Valencia had taken a 2-1 lead. He struck a low free kick that went around the wall and was too much for Valencia goalkeeper Neto.
Valencia, coming off a 1-0 win against Las Palmas in the opener, equalised a few minutes after Asensio’s first goal with a close-range shot by Carlos Soler. The visitors went ahead in the second half with a low strike from inside the area by French midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia.
Madrid struggled offensively without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo. Karim Benzema wasted opportunities in front of the goal, including from close range in the 88th. His header struck the post in injury time after being tipped by the goalkeeper.
GREAT SAVE
Neto had already made a great save against Luka Modric’s strike from just outside the area midway through the second half.
A few minutes later, it was Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas who brilliantly stopped a free kick shot by Valencia midfielder Dani Parejo.
Before the game, Madrid was officially handed the LaLiga trophy it won last season.
Madrid was without suspended defender Sergio Ramos.
On Saturday, Barcelona won 2-0 at Alaves with a pair of goals by Lionel Messi. Atlético Madrid earned its first league victory with a 5-1 rout at Las Palmas.