Villarreal took the victory at La Cerámica (2-1) against Real Madrid in a vibrant one-on-one match in which the locals went ahead twice on the scoreboard.
After a goalless first half, Yeremi Pino opened the scoring before two minutes had elapsed into the second half and although Karim Benzema equalized with a penalty at minute 60, two minutes later Gerard Moreno, also from the penalty spot, went ahead from new to locals.
The staging of Villarreal and Real Madrid was totally opposite. The locals staged a brilliant start against a sleepy, slow and surpassed rival who saw how the people of Castellón enjoyed three good chances in just four minutes, one of them with a ball to a post after a shot from Francis Coquelin’s heel.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team practically did not manage to get past the midfield until minute 7 of the game, but after the initial effervescence of the locals, Real Madrid gradually took the pulse of the duel and began to string together longer attacking possessions.
A great opportunity for Militao that he did not know how to take advantage of against Reina gave way to a better one for Yeremi Pino against a masterful Thibaut Courtois who resolved in his favor the one-on-one with the Villarreal striker.
Around half an hour into the game, Villarreal regained control, bottled up Real Madrid, who defended themselves with everything but without losing their offensive perspective, which led them to counterattack with Vinicius and Benzema after a loss of the ball from Juan Foyth and only the Albiol’s good work prevented greater evils for the locals.
In addition, Reina had to appear to save a goal from a shot by Vinicius five minutes from the break.
A shot from Parejo that Courtois saved practically meant the end of a first half with a very intense Villarreal and very high pressure against a Real Madrid that grew in the clash and ended up having chances to score.
Villarreal did not miss their outing in a rush and before the two minutes had elapsed Yeremi Pino beat Courtois after a mistake by Mendy.
Quique Setién’s team took the lead and although Benzema had a chance to equalize on the next play, the push from the Castellón team continued as Real Madrid looked for the equalizer.
A great opportunity for Benzema against Reina ended in a penalty for Real Madrid by the hand of Foyth after a VAR warning that the French striker converted in the 60th minute, but another penalty by the hand of Alaba restored Villarreal’s lead a minute and a half later at transform it Gerrad Moreno.
The game became a carousel of approaches to both areas. Villarreal was looking for the sentence and Real Madrid the tie. Ancelotti turned to the speed and intensity of Rodrygo and Camavinga for the last phase of the match.
Real Madrid went for the equalizer, taking advantage of the fact that Villarreal tried to slow down the game and focused their efforts more on defensive tasks, although without forgetting the counterattack that allowed them to get dangerously close to the Madrid goal again.
Villarreles and madridistas went for the goal, the former to convict and the latter to balance the balance in a vibrant final stretch of the match, but they were unable to change the score despite the cascade of chances in both goals. EFE
