MADRID, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid recovered from their shock exit from the King's Cup knockout competition in midweek when they won 4-1 away to Valencia on Saturday.
Two Cristiano Ronaldo penalties put Madrid 2-0 ahead before half time. Although Santi Mina gave the home side hope with half an hour remaining, late strikes from Marcelo and Tony Kroos confirmed Madrid's win.
Madrid went into the game under the threat of dropping out of the top-four, with coach Zinedine Zidane seriously questioned for the first time in his two years in charge at the club.
Valencia meanwhile have qualified for the semifinals of the Cup and perhaps had half an eye on their first leg of their tie against Barcelona next week, while injuries in defense meant that Francis Coquelin was forced to partner Ezequiel Garay in the heart of Valencia's defense.
Martin Montoya then proceeded to make Madrid's task easier by gifting them penalties in the 16th and 38th minute with fouls on Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, both of which Ronaldo dispatched with relative ease.
The halftime score perhaps flattered Madrid as Valencia had also threatened on occasion and the home side got into the game with a Santi Mina header following a corner just before the hour.
It was nearly 2-2 shortly after, but Keylor Navas did well to save low from Dani Parejo, shortly before Lucas Varene replaced Gareth Bale.
Marcelo sealed the three points for Real Madrid after a smart exchange of passes with Marcos Asensio with 10 minutes to go and a Tony Kroos solo goal with two minutes remaining put the icing on the cake and makes Zidane's job secure, for the time being at least.
