Gary Neville watched his Valencia team hold Rafa Benitez’s Real Madrid to a draw then declared: ‘I want to be here for longer than six months.’
Neville had suggested before the match that he did not see himself staying as coach for the long term. But after an exhilarating match against 10-man opposition, he said: ‘I was talking about 15 or 20 years. I know I have to prove myself here. This was not proving myself. It was just a small step forward.’
It was still enough to keep Benitez under huge pressure. Real needed a win to draw level with Barcelona in the league and it seemed that victory was on when Gareth Bale — the Wales ace Neville must help England stop at Euro 2016 — scored. But just a minute later Paco Alcacer made it 2-2.
Gareth Bale (left) and Cristiano Ronaldo look dejected as Real Madrid drew against Valencia
The pair squandered a late chance to win the game as a late corner found both Bale and Ronaldo unmarked
But Bale flung himself at the ball, missed and also blocked Ronaldo's view of the chance
The camera from behind the goal shows how Bale got in Ronaldo's way and both missed their chance to score
Paco Alcacer celebrates after he scores a late equaliser for Valencia against Real Madrid
Gary Neville was all smiles as his team snatched a draw but is still looking for a first win in charge of Valencia
Real had another chance to grab three points at the death but Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo got in each other’s way when a cross came in. The result left Neville still waiting for a win in La Liga, although he was pleased with this display.
The under-fire Benitez at least knows he is always welcome at the Mestalla and the home fans unfurled a massive banner that read: ‘Thanks Rafa, you gave us the best years of our lives’.
Grateful for the two titles and UEFA Cup he won with them in a four-year spell that started in 2001, they were soon singing his name.
Valencia looked pumped up but they were 1-0 down on 17 minutes when their defence was brilliantly picked apart by Karim Benzema, Bale and Ronaldo.
The Frenchman started the move on the edge of the area, finding Bale, who backheeled the ball into the path of Ronaldo. He looked to his right and flicked the ball to his left to Benzema who dispatched it past Jaume Domenech.
Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring a brilliant opening goal against Valencia
Benzema is mobbed by his team-mates after he scored the opening goal after a flowing move
Benzema gave his side the perfect start scoring after just 16 minutes for Real Madrid
Rafa Benitez was back at the Mestalla after a successful period as Valencia boss earlier in his career
The Valencia fans show a banner thanking Benitez for his time at the club
If it was brilliant from Madrid’s front three, it was dire from Valencia’s defence. Neville is missing injured Germany international Shkodran Mustafi and, without him, Aymen Abdennour brings to mind the former Sky pundit’s description of David Luiz as like a player controlled by a 10-year-old on a PlayStation.
Abdennour was found wanting at the other end of the pitch five minutes before the break when he sent a shot squirming wide with the goal open after a corner.
Valencia were on top, though, with Andre Gomes exerting influence. The Portuguese is one Jorge Mendes import to Valencia who looks the part and he was at the heart of their best play. He should have scored when put through by Rodrigo De Paul but allowed Ramos to block.
On the stroke of half-time, Gomes won a penalty as he charged for the byline and went down under Pepe’s clumsy challenge. Dani Parejo made it 1-1 from the spot with Bale still making justifiable claims that he should have been awarded a penalty moments earlier when fouled by Lucas Orban.
Pepe brings down Andre Gomes in the area and concedes a penalty just before half-time
Valencia's Daniel Parejo (centre) celebrates after scoring from the penalty spot
Wales forward Bale looks to make a pass during the game at the Mestalla stadium
Gomes continued to impress in the second half and a shot from distance that seemed to move in the air almost foxed Navas, who punched wide.
Real were second to everything and Benitez replaced Benzema with Lucas Vazquez — perhaps the change of a man no longer bothered about staying onside with the president.
The 4-4-2 formation lasted three minutes because Mateo Kovacic was sent off for a foul on Joao Cancelo. Both feet were off the ground and the perpetrator’s hand went straight up to apologise, but it was too late. The red card was already out of the referee’s pocket.
Madrid could hardly feel aggrieved, although they believed Ronaldo should have been awarded a penalty moments earlier after Abdennour pushed him off the ball. And the 10 men were in front with nine minutes left when Bale headed in Toni Kroos’s free-kick.
Bale charged to the bench and the team celebrated as if the game was won. Benitez tried desperately to bark orders to players who were too busy celebrating. Sixty seconds later, Valencia were back on terms.
Ramos and Pepe were all at sea as a cross from the left was headed back across the face of goal by Rodrigo for Alcacer to equalise.
Both sides could have won it in the last seconds but Navas saved brilliantly at point-blank range from Alvaro Negredo and on the counter-attack Bale blasted wide.
Bale (left) scores with a header to give Real Madrid a 2-1 lead late in the game
Bale directs his header goalwards from a corner to give what Real Madrid thought would be all three points
Bale runs off in celebration after his late header made it 2-1 to Real Madrid
Bale is mobbed by his Real Madrid team-mates after his goal put them ahead
Alcacer celebrates with team-mate Andre Gomes after scoring against Real Madrid
Alcacer scores a late leveller against Real Madrid to earn a point at the Mestalla
Valencia's players celebrate their late equaliser as the Real Madrid players look dejected
Ronaldo had a quiet game by his standards as Real Madrid could only muster a draw
Ronaldo failed to score against Valencia and walks off dejected after the draw
Neville and Benitez both gesture to their players from the touchline
Real Madrid were reduced to 10 men when Mateo Kovacic saw red for a foul on Joao Cancelo
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