Result: Valencia 1-1 Real Madrid
Date: 15 December 2019
Venue: Mestalla
Karim Benzema struck in the dying stages of the second half to earn Real Madrid a 1-1 draw at Valencia on Sunday evening.
Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane brought back the regulars after a bulk of them were rested in their win over Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League, with Karim Benzema among the returnees alongside Isco and Rodrygo.
Madrid applied early pressure and came close to going ahead in the seventh minute after Federico Valverde unleashed a low drive on the edge of the box that was parried away by Valencia shot-stopper Jaume Domenech.
The visitors had a glorious chance to break the deadlock in the 20th minute after Dani Carvajal whipped a delightful cross towards the far post but Rodrygo could not find the back of the net with a free header,.
Shortly before the break, Ferran Torres came very close to finding the breakthrough after meeting Carlos Soler's cross, but his header sailed over the crossbar.
Madrid were under pressure in the opening exchanges of the second stanza, weathering the storm and after lack of opportunities upfront, Zidane made a double-change with 20 minutes remaining as Vinicius Junior came on for Rodrygo and Gareth Bale came on for Isco in the hope of some spark.
Los Ches finally broke the deadlock with 12 minutes remaining after Soler was left unmarked in the centre of the six-yard box and powered home a looping drive from Daniel Wass' cut-back on the right side of the box.
However, Los Blancos snatched a last-gasp equaliser after Courtois came out of his goals to challenge for a corner and his saw header parried into the path of Benzema, who smashed home the leveller from close range range.
Zidane's charges went level with log-leaders Barcelona, who they face at the Camp Nou on Wednesday evening.
