Valencia 0 - Real 5 : Full Shit

Valencia hits rock bottom

If there is one thing that coaches fear, it is allowing one loss to beat their team twice. In the case of Valencia, who were coming off a midweek 2-0 loss to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey, Sunday's league contest versus Los Blancos was a chance to avoid such a fate.

But after Valencia's pathetic display on Sunday night in front of their home fans at the Mestalla, one can only deduce that Valencia's thoughts were still centered on the first leg Copa tie and not on the task at hand.

Madrid hammered Los Che for five goals in the first half, a massive embarrassment for Valencia president Manuel Llorente who had to sit through another protest of waving white handkerchiefs from the home fans.

In the two matches versus Madrid in the last five days, Valencia have been outscored 7-0. Arguably Valencia's best action of the game came when one of their spectators hit a nifty volley of an Andrés Guardado shot that had sailed wide and into the stands.

So how does Valencia approach their second leg Copa tie this week? Clearly the psychological advantage will be with Jose Mourinho's team. Another early goal from Madrid in the return leg on Wednesday could provoke yet another avalanche of goals from the visitors.

To start, Valencia manager Ernesto Valverde needs his team to be more physical with Madrid. Also, more cohesion in the midfield is needed. The linking from the defense up to the forwards was nonexistent on Sunday. Simply put, this team needs a swift kick in the behind if they want any chance at saving face and at least putting together a decent effort against Madrid on Wednesday.

Valverde mentioned in his post-match press conference that his team "will learn from this experience". It better happen quickly, as time is ticking with another Madrid match looming.