Coach hails Valencia's resilience after first win at Real since 2008

Valencia coach Carlos Corberan said his side had shown terrific mental strength in securing its first win at Real Madrid since 2008 on Saturday.

Hugo Duro netted the winner in added time as Valencia moved seven points clear of the relegation zone with its shock 2-1 victory.

Corberan praised his players for not letting their heads drop after Vinicius Junior equalized for the host five minutes after the break, canceling out Valencia's first-half lead, which came courtesy of centerback Mouctar Diakhaby's goal.

"They competed with personality and mental strength needed to overcome any setback," Corberan told reporters.

"In football, you can't separate the emotional from the tactical. It's impossible.

"Faced with a setback like Real Madrid's goal, at a place where they've made comebacks before, having the mental strength to pick ourselves up, not let our heads drop and to keep believing has been extremely important."

Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili pulled off a string of superb saves, including a first-half penalty from Vinicius Jr, a save which he said won him a bet.

"I had a conversation with Vinicius, and I won 50 euros ($54)," Mamardashvili told reporters after the game. "I asked him if he wanted to bet 50 euros, and he said 'yes', and I won."

"He ought to pay me, but he hasn't yet."

Barcelona held

The shock result for Madrid was softened hours later, when league leader Barcelona was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Real Betis. That meant Hansi Flick's side extended its lead to only four points over its fierce rival. There are eight rounds left including a 'Clasico' in May.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti defended his team's effort, even saying that Madrid "deserved" to win the game, and Vinicius' penalty was one of the match's "details that doomed us".

But, the Italian manager conceded that the unexpected loss was a blow in the title race.

"It is much harder now to fight for the league, but we only have one idea, and that is to fight until the end, because we still have a chance after this game," Ancelotti said.

He had to play third-string goalkeeper Fran Gonzalez, who made his first-team debut for Madrid at age 19, because Thibaut Courtois and Andriy Lunin were injured. Ancelotti said he hopes both of his more experienced goalies will be fit in time to face Arsenal in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg on Tuesday.

"We hadn't won on the road, and there is not a better place to do so than here," Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra said. "They are three vital points for us, and at a stadium where very few teams get a good result."

The victory confirmed the team's improvement since Corberan replaced Ruben Baraja in December. It has risen from the relegation zone to 15th place, and seven points from danger.

"When you see that, from start to finish, your players compete with the personality that you have to show at a ground like this, with the character you need to roll with the punches, and that this attitude pays off, you have to be satisfied," Corberan said.

Agencies