Goal.com
Garay, who had replaced Pepe just before half-time after the Portuguese international was stretchered off, did superbly to guide in Xabi Alonso's free-kick with seven minutes remaining to ensure Barca's win over Espanyol earlier tonight did not increase the gap between the top two for too long.
All five goals came in a thrilling second half at the Mestalla with Garay's fellow Argentinian Gonzalo Higuain celebrating a late birthday by twice putting Madrid ahead only for hosts Valencia to hit back through goals from Spain international David Villa and Joaquin Sanchez
Valencia won this fixture 3-0 last season after scoring twice in the opening 32 minutes and Los Che looked determined to do likewise tonight as they launched attack after attack early on against a Madrid side missing star duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka through suspension and injury, respectively.
However, despite their early dominance Valencia only once tested Iker Casillas, with Juan Manuel Mata trying his luck from the edge of the box, and Madrid withstood the onslaught before finishing the first half on top.
They went desperately close three times just before the break through Higuain (twice) and Sergio Ramos, whose header came back off the post.
Madrid suffered a potentially major setback just prior to the interval though when they lost Pepe to injury after he landed awkwardly on his knee jumping for a header.
It is not yet known how bad the 30million euros centre-back's injury is, but Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini will be keeping his fingers crossed it is not serious.
That was a sour way to end the first period for Madrid, but they could hardly have asked for a better start to the second as Higuain put them ahead just nine minutes in.
The 22-year-old - who celebrated his birthday on Thursday - was heavily involved in the build-up to the goal and he also finished it off, heading past Cesar Sanchez following good work by Karim Benzema.
Madrid were ahead for just six minutes though, and they were fortunate to enjoy their lead for that long.
David Navarro really should have brought Valencia level in the 58th minute when he somehow contrived to head over from just three yards out, but Villa would not be so profligate soon after, beating Casillas to Jeremy Mathieu's superb cross to head in off the crossbar.
That was Villa's 12th league goal of the season, lifting him clear once again of Barcelona's Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the top of the scoring charts.
Madrid will have been fuming to have conceded so quickly after going ahead, but they need not have worried as they were back in front just five minutes later thanks to that man Higuain.
Marcelo's pass put Higuain through on the edge of the area and he slammed his eighth league goal of the season - all of which have come in his past seven games - past a helpless Cesar.
That would not be the final goal of the night though, and Valencia must have thought they would get at least a point when substitute Joaquin brought them level for a second time after firing past Casillas at his near post in the 80th minute.
However, there was another twist in the tale as Garay somehow managed to contort his body and send a glancing header from Alonso's free-kick into the corner of the net, sealing a breathtaking, and vital, win for Madrid.
Source: http://www.espnstar.com/football/primera-liga/news/detail/item365970/Valencia-2-3-Real-Madrid/
