The Real Madrid vs. Valencia match delivered a much-desired awakening.
Having been eliminated from the Copa del Rey earlier this week against Leganés, Real Madrid seem to be back in the game after beating Valencia 4-1.
This season's first half has been rather disastrous for Real Madrid. They sit 4th in La Liga and, rather than competing for another title, they are struggling to secure a spot in next year's Champions League.
Pressure has been building for Zinedine Zidane and his team almost every week.
Earlier this week the unthinkable happened as Real Madrid were beaten at Santiago Bernabeu by Leganés.
After such shock, Real Madrid were in desperate need for a win. Visiting Valencia seemed like a difficult task in a difficult moment.
However, we witnessed an awakening of sorts as Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace from the penalty spot.
With these goals, Cristiano Ronaldo became the player to have taken the most penalties in La Liga history, and he also attained his 100th career penalty goal in all competitions.
O segundo gol do REAL MADRI!
Cristiano Ronaldo
Valencia 0x2 Real Madri
LA LIGA— ESPORTE INTERNACIONAL (@EsporteInt1) 27 de enero de 2018
Later on in the game, Marcelo and Marcos Asensio weaved a marvelous play that ended in a classic Marcelo goal.
Clases de fútbol asociación desde la banda izquierda por Marcelo y Asensio.
PRECIOSO gol. pic.twitter.com/ABhc0OCpZ0— Solo Fútbol (Goles) (@DeFutbolMX_) 27 de enero de 2018
Even as the 3-1 seemed to settle the score with less than 10 minutes remaining, Real Madrid were hungry for more.
In another fast-paced and incredibly precise display of talent, Marcelo and Toni Kross made their way past opponents, with the German International striking a marvelous mid-range shot that found the back of the net.
Goooooooaazzo de @ToniKroos, un toque de billar del alemán deposita el balón en el fondo para el cuarto del @realmadrid que sentencia el partido #ValenciaRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/BYCjRazx9q
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) 27 de enero de 2018
Thus the score was settled at 4-1.
You could see how much relieved Madrid's players looked as they headed back into the locker room.
Even when it is practically impossible that Real Madrid can catch Barcelona in the race for the title, it was of the utmost important for them to regain some lost confidence.
As things are standing, it looks like the only thing that would redeem Zidane and his side in 2018 is to win the Champions league.
In order to do so, however, they first have to outplay Neymar's PSG.