Real Madrid vs Valencia match report: Cristiano Ronaldo flops as Real struggle and leave Barcelona on the brink of the La Liga crown

Real Madrid 2 Valencia 2: The World Player of the Year misses penalty as Real slipped four points behind Catalans

Cristiano Ronaldo missed the penalty that Gareth Bale won ap

The season is turning sour for Real Madrid after they struggled to secure a 2-2 draw at home to Valencia and slipped four points behind Barcelona in the chase for the La Liga title with only two games left.

Gradually recovering from a welter of injuries, Real found themselves 2-0 down after 26 minutes and to add to the misery Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty on the stroke of half-time after Gareth Bale had been fouled.

On top of that they lost Toni Kroos to an apparent muscle injury after 25 minutes , so it was a miserable half of football to follow their 2-1 defeat away to Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final in midweek.

Bale was more involved than he was against Juventus, hitting the bar with a free-kick when the game was goalless. However, Real are still missing the subtle promptings of Luka Modric in midfield and forward Karim Benzema was still out.

They finally got back into the game when Pepe pulled a goal back with a header from a corner 11 minutes into the second half, and Isco levelled with a superb curling shot six minutes from time.

Valencia held on in an action-packed finale to leave Barcelona within touching distance of a fifth La Liga title in seven years after their edgy 2-0 win over Real Sociedad.

Their nerves were finally settled four minutes from time when Pedro scored a stunning goal. He had only been on the pitch for a few minutes after replacing Rafinha when he wrapped up a vital victory with an acrobatic bicycle kick.

Rafinha was one of five changes to the Barça line-up with the return leg of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich in mind, even though Barça hold a 3-0 lead.

Sociedad’s Argentine goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli made a series of superb saves to deny Barça’s attacking trio of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez before Neymar finally found the net after 51 minutes.

Mikel Gonzalez, the Sociedad defender, attempted a clearance but the ball fell kindly for the Brazil forward and he nodded home to ease the Barça fans’ jangling nerves.

Juventus, already Italian champions, warmed up for their return against Real with a 1-1 draw against Cagliari. They were boosted by the return of Paul Pogba, who marked his comeback after nearly eight weeks out with a thigh injury by scoring their goal.

Bayern, who face an uphill battle against Barça, slumped to a 1-0 home defeat by Augsburg in the Bundesliga, where they have already secured the title. It was their fourth successive loss in all matches.

Bayern’s chances of ending their losing streaked were hit early on. Reserve keeper Pepe Reina felled Argentine striker Bobadilla in the box and was sent off after 14 minutes, forcing Manuel Neuer, who was being rested, to come on. Paul Verhaegh hit the post from the spot.