Villarreal 2-2 Real Madrid - BBC Sport

Publish date: 2024-08-22

Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo both scored but Real Madrid let a two-goal lead slip as they drew at Villarreal in their last match before the Champions League final against Liverpool.

The visitors looked in control at half-time through Bale's smart finish and Ronaldo's simple header.

But substitute Roger Martinez scored for Villarreal with 19 minutes left.

Samu Castillejo - also off the bench - beat the offside trap and finished coolly to complete the comeback.

Real Madrid full-back Marcelo was caught out for the leveller, playing Castillejo onside as he failed to push up with the rest of the Real defence.

While the finale of the match showed up Real Madrid's lack of cohesion in defence, the first half underlined their individual ability in attack.

Bale, who did not start either of Real's Champions League semi-final legs against Bayern Munich, pressed his case for a starting XI spot in Kiev on 26 May.

The Wales international created the opening goal for himself with a clever dummy before the near-post finish that wrong-footed goalkeeper Andres Fernandez.

Ronaldo, who was playing for the first time since an ankle sprain against Barcelona on 6 May, backed up manager Zinedine Zidane's assertion that he was "120%" fit as he leapt well to nod in Marcelo's cross.

Real have conceded 44 goals in their La Liga campaign - a stat that compares poorly to the 20 and 29 shipped by Atletico Madrid and champions Barcelona above them.

The way that they allowed Martinez space to get his shot away and Castillejo through on goal will give Liverpool's attacking trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah plenty of encouragement.

Line-ups

Villarreal

Formation 4-4-2

13Fernández

2M Gaspar23Bonera3González5Marín

8Fornals19Fuego Martínez16Rodri20Soriano

15Ünal18Sansone

Substitutes

Real Madrid

Formation 4-3-1-2

30Zidane

2Carvajal5Varane4Ramos12Marcelo

10Modric14Casemiro8Kroos

22Isco

11Bale7Cristiano Ronaldo

Substitutes

Referee:José María Sánchez Martínez

Attendance:18,604

Match Stats

Live Text

  • Match ends, Villarreal 2, Real Madrid 2.

  • Second Half ends, Villarreal 2, Real Madrid 2.

  • Salem Al Dawsari (Villarreal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  • Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  • Foul by Salem Al Dawsari (Villarreal).

  • Attempt missed. Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Toni Kroos with a cross following a corner.

  • Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Álvaro González.

  • Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Andrés Fernández.

  • Attempt saved. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Gareth Bale.

  • Marcelo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  • Foul by Mario Gaspar (Villarreal).

  • Attempt blocked. Samu Castillejo (Villarreal) left footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right is blocked.

  • Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  • Foul by Toni Kroos (Real Madrid).

  • Samu Castillejo (Villarreal) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  • Roger Martínez (Villarreal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  • Raphael Varane (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  • Foul by Roger Martínez (Villarreal).

  • Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  • Delay in match Luca Zidane (Real Madrid) because of an injury.

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