(VIDEO) Vinicius Jr scores to bring Real Madrid level against Valencia

The Santiago Bernabeu witnessed a surprising first half, where Valencia struck first and momentarily silenced the home crowd with an unexpected goal. Real Madrid, who had been pushing forward but lacked precision, found themselves trailing after a scrappy play ended in the back of Lunin's net. To make matters worse, Vinicius Jr had missed a golden opportunity to open the scoring when he failed to convert a penalty while the match was still 0-0.

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That miss seemed to weigh heavily on the Brazilian. For the remainder of the first half, Carlo Ancelotti's side showed frustration, imprecise passing and a lack of sharpness in the final third. Valencia, meanwhile, sat deep in a low block and waited patiently for chances to counter, looking to extend their lead. However, they failed to take advantage and left the door open for the hosts.

As the second half kicked off, Real Madrid came out with a completely different attitude. Driven by the energy of the home crowd and a clear sense of urgency, they immediately camped in the Valencia half. The early minutes showed a team determined to turn the match around — and it did not take long for that intent to pay off.

A corner from the right was whipped in with pace and flicked on at the near post, causing chaos in the Valencia box. The ball dropped loose inside the six-yard area, and Vinicius Jr, unmarked, simply had to tap it in to draw Madrid level. The Brazilian celebrated with pure relief and fury, letting out the frustration from the missed penalty. The fans responded with a standing ovation, recognising both his resilience and his character.

That equaliser completely changed the mood of the match. Madrid, once paralysed by anxiety, found rhythm and belief again. Bellingham and Modric began to dictate the tempo with confidence, while Vinicius — now reinvigorated — tormented defenders down the left flank. Valencia, on the other hand, started to retreat and looked increasingly uncomfortable under pressure.

From the touchline, Carlo Ancelotti urged his players to remain composed but also to keep their attacking intent. The response was immediate, and every Madrid attack now carried danger. The Bernabeu roared back to life, sensing that the comeback was not only possible, but inevitable. The match, which had started to slip away, was now firmly in the balance.

With the scores level and plenty of time still on the clock, Real Madrid are going all out for the win. Vinicius, who went from missing a penalty to scoring the equaliser, may well become the hero of the night. The comeback is on — and Madrid are pushing with everything they have.

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