Carlo Ancelotti: Ronaldo's goal kept us in title race

Ronaldo vies for the ball with Valencia’s Ricardo Costa.

Carlo Ancelotti credited Ronaldo’s injury time equaliser for keeping Real Madrid in title contention, as the home side salvaged only a point against a valiant Valencia as the match ended 2-2.

The Champions League finalists of 2014 were on course for a massive set-back when the score was 2-1 in favour of the visitors until Ronaldo’s stunning backheel volley restored parity for them.

Manager Ancelotti believes his side would have crashed out of a three-way horse race for the league title, had the Portuguese star not pulled-out a magnificent strike in the dying stages.

“Ronaldo’s goal is very important because losing this game would have meant that we lost the league,” he told reporters after the game.“Like I’ve said before, the league will be decided in the last game. It was a tough week for all the three teams. The team started the match well but it became more difficult to play with the same intensity.”

The final score left Real to rue the missed golden opportunity to capitalise on Atletico’s slip-up, as they crashed to a surprise 2-0 defeat at a lowly Levante.

“We lost a good chance to advance in the league but it’s not over yet.”

“It’s normal that the team is not happy because we tried to win and we couldn’t do it. We will fight until the end.” added the Italian.

The result leaves the Los Blancos third in the charts with 83 points after 35 rounds, with a game in hand over both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. Real Madrid next take on Valladolid away from home on Wednesday, who are battling for survival in the Primera division sitting 19th in the table.