Spanish leader Real Madrid beats Valencia 3-2

AP, Sunday 20 Nov 2011

Spanish leader Real Madrid outlasted Valencia 3-2 in a thrilling contest to remain three points ahead of Barcelona after the Catalan side cruised to a 4-0 win over Zaragoza on Saturday

Real Madrid

Karim Benzema put Madrid on its way to its eighth straight win in league play with his 20th-minute opener, and Sergio Ramos doubled the visitors’ advantage with a header in the 71st.

Striker Roberto Soldado soon pulled one back for Valencia before Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to have put the game away for Madrid, but Soldado struck again late to keep the result in doubt until the final whistle.

Valencia’s second loss of the season left it in third place, seven points behind Madrid.

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