Real crash to defeat at Valladolid Sunday, November 16, 2008
Fabio Canobbio's second-half goal gave Valladolid a 1-0 win over Real Madrid on Saturday to end the Spanish champion's nine-game unbeaten league run and put further pressure on under-fire coach Bernd Schuster.
Real coach Bernd Schuster cuts a forlorn figure in the dug out.
Canobbio raced into the area in the 49th minute and sent a rising drive over two Madrid defenders and goalkeeper Iker Casillas into the top of the net.
Sergio Asenjo made a crucial save from Real striker Raul with three minutes to go and Pedro Lopez headed Fabio Cannavaro's last-minute header off the line to give Valladolid the three points.
Madrid, who finished with 10 men after Gabriel Heinze was shown red in the 89th minute, had not lost a Primera Liga match since the opening day.
But Real's poor run of results in the Champions League and an exit to a third-division club in the domestic cup competition this past week had Spanish media speculating that Schuster needed a victory at Valladolid to save his job.
"We didn't deserve to lose," said an angry Schuster, who refused to address questions about his future.
"I'm not going to answer that because I don't deserve that kind of question. I'm centered on my work, these are difficult moments."
Arch-rivals Barcelona top the table on 25 points and can stretch their unbeaten run to 16 games against Recreativo Huelva on Sunday.
Villarreal have 24, followed by Valencia, who missed the chane to go top when they surprisingly lost 3-2 at home to Sporting Gijon in Saturday's late kick, and Real Madrid with 23.
