Real Madrid 1 : 1 Valencia - Real held by Valencia in season opener

Posted Sunday, August 19, 2012 by PA

Primera Division holders Real Madrid began the new campaign with a 1-1 draw against Valencia at the Bernabeu after Jonas cancelled out Gonzalo Higuain's early strike.

Los Che, who finished third last season, were well worthy of a point and should have had three but Roberto Soldado's second-half strike was wrongfully ruled out for offside.

Madrid, who have not made any new signings so far this summer, lined up largely as expected although Lassana Diarra was preferred to Sami Khedira and Higuain chosen ahead of Karim Benzema.

In his first match in charge, former Los Che centre half Mauricio Pellegrino elected to start recently acquired trio Andres Guardado, Joao Pereira and Fernando Gago, with fellow new arrivals, Jonathan Viera and Nelson Valdez on the bench.

The champions made a bright start and after both Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria came close early on, Higuain gave the home side the lead with just 10 minutes on the clock.

A wonderful ball over the top of the Valencia backline from Di Maria found the Argentina striker, who, after being denied twice by goalkeeper Diego Alves, thundered a powerful effort into the top right hand corner from inside the area.

Against the run of play Valencia levelled four minutes before the break when Tino Costa's wonderfully whipped free-kick from the right was met by Jonas, who headed home.

The Brazilian out-jumped Xabi Alonso, Pepe and Iker Casillas, with the latter two clashing heads.

Both were left dazed by the incident, with Pepe needing a bandage to cover a gash and the Portuguese was replaced at the break by former Valencia defender Raul Albiol.

The home side were let off the hook when early in the second half a through ball inside his own half by Costa found an unmarked Roberto Soldado.

The striker ran through the middle unchallenged before rounding Casillas and sliding the ball in the net only for play to be brought back for offside, although replays showed the 27-year-old was onside when the ball was played.

Substitute Benzema forced a good save from Alves with 10 minutes left, but Valencia were well worth a draw as the home side struggled to create chances.