La Liga Title Race Heats Up as Real Madrid’s 22-Game Winning Run Ends at Valencia
Real Madrid’s remarkable 22-game winning streak came to an end with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Valencia, casting a momentary shadow over what has been a dominant season so far for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
The result at the Mestalla, coming at the start of the new year, was a surprise jolt for a Madrid side that had looked virtually unstoppable across competitions. Yet the Italian manager remained composed in the aftermath, insisting that the loss was no cause for panic.
“It’s a defeat that comes after winning 22 matches. It had to happen sooner or later,” Ancelotti told reporters. “We mustn’t forget what we’ve achieved. I don’t think this result will affect us going forward. The season is long, and we’re well positioned in La Liga.”
Madrid had their chances during the match, with their attacking players creating numerous opportunities, but a combination of missed chances and resolute defending from Valencia meant they walked away empty-handed. Despite the loss, Ancelotti insisted his side had performed well overall.
“We played a good game and didn’t deserve to lose,” he added. “We were unlucky not to score. The work was good, the attack functioned well — the goals just didn’t come.”
The loss opened a door for their rivals, but FC Barcelona failed to capitalise, falling 1-0 to Real Sociedad in San Sebastián. That slip-up means the Catalan giants remain just one point behind Real Madrid, missing a chance to overtake the league leaders.
Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid continued their steady climb, drawing level with Barcelona on points and intensifying the pressure at the top of the table.
Though Real Madrid’s winning streak has come to a halt, their position in the title race remains strong. With the league tight at the top, and three major contenders in close pursuit, the battle for La Liga supremacy is shaping up to be one of the most fiercely contested in recent years.
For Madrid, the challenge will now be to regroup quickly, rediscover their clinical edge, and prove that this slip was just a brief interruption — not the start of a downward trend.
