Schuster In Trouble As Madrid Lose Again

Real Madrid missed the chance to regain top spot in the Primera with a whimpering defeat in Valladolid.

The Pucela, known makeweights on the road, once again showed their worth on their home turf with a win that, a couple of scares aside, was seldom in doubt.

The injury-stricken visitors had Raúl up front to start with, with Higuaín and Van der Vaart on either side, while Javi García joined the likes of Guti in midfield. Coach Bernd Schuster, though, was to see his preferred line-up end up down to ten men right at the death, and goalless throughout.

Within two minutes the two had linked up, the Argentine swinging in a cross for Van der Vaart, who cut in from the left. The Dutchman's volley, though, was miles off target.

Valladolid were next to threaten as they gained a great deal of confidence, García Calvo seeing his header hacked off the line by Marcelo.

Overall the chances were shared at both ends for the first half of the opening 45, although there were relatively few opportunities that could truly have been said to trouble either 'keeper.

Still, what was most notable was the disarray in the Madrid defence, comprising Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Heinze, Marcelo. Time after time the Valladolid attackers - including the sprightly Canobbio and Sesma out on the wing - were able to stride forward largely unopposed, prevented from scoring only by their own ineffeciency.

But that was to change just after the break as Canobbio gave his side a merited lead. The Uruguayan capped off a wonderful team move that saw Pedro León skin Heinze out wide, bring the ball forward and cut it back for Canobbio. Fernando Gago tried in vain to slide in and challenge the attacking midfielder, but the ex-Celta man's shot was already whistling past Casillas and into the roof of the net.

Madrid attempted to mount a comeback, Guti making a rare appearance in the build-up with a lovely through ball that only a great challenge from the towering Marcos could prevent from reaching Higuaín.

But desperation was seeping into Madrid's play, particularly as Sneijder came on for Van der Vaart. This saw the midfielder move further inside than his predecessor, with Sergio Ramos and Marcelo pushing further and further up.

This merely allowed Valladolid to hit on the break as Madrid contrived to fail to create chances at the other end, a situation that did not change after Royston Drenthe's arrival on the pitch.

Indeed, only when Pedro López hit the deck with injury did Madrid look dangerous: fifteen minutes from time Sneijder took advantage of the available space to twice test the excellent Asenjo, but to no avail.

In fact the blancos' best chance was to come with three minutes to go. Borja, playing against his old side, slipped a ridiculously short pass-back to Asenjo, Raúl reaching it first. However, the young 'keeper saved from the old master with his legs.

With Bernd Schuster in wide-eyed disbelief in his dug-out, it was clear that Valladolid had luck on their side - and Madrid had no cutting edge, belief, or even desire on theirs. Gabriel Heinze's sending off for a ridiculous piece of dissent two minutes from time just confirmed that.

Stats, line-ups and live commentary for Real Madrid versus Real Valladolid.