Champions draw with Villarreal
Villarreal
FinishedReal Madrid
Real Madrid were ahead at half-time thanks to Arda Güler's brace and goals from Joselu and Lucas Vázquez, but the home side were level thanks to Sorloth's four-goal haul.
Real Madrid were held to a draw by Villarreal at the Estadio de la Cerámica and have now gone a record 31 games without defeat in LaLiga. Both teams dominated a period of the match, which was highly entertaining for the fans. The champions produced a spectacular first half in which they scored four goals and demonstrated their clinical finishing in front of goal. Arda Güler bagged two of them, taking his tally to six in the competition. Joselu and Lucas Vázquez, who also set up another two goals, grabbed the other two. In the second half, Sorloth added three more goals to the one he had scored in the first half to level the match.
A high tempo first half saw five goals scored and it didn't take long for the chances to come. Villarreal, who were vying for a spot in European competition, carved out the first chance after six minutes with Sorloth's shot from the edge of the area, but Lunin was on hand with a great save to fingertip the ball onto the post. Madrid's reply was emphatic. Brahim set up Arda Güler who brought the ball down perfectly to beat Bailly and slotted home with a left-footed shot across the face of goal.
Joselu extended the lead
Villarreal could have drawn level midway through the first half when Militao almost put through his own net from a corner, but Lunin was at his best again to keep the ball out with his foot. Six minutes later, the champions extended their lead. Lucas Vázquez crossed from the right and Joselu headed the ball home with a clinical finish. It was 0-2 after half an hour, but Sorloth gave the home fans something to cheer about by scoring Villarreal's first goal in the 39th minute with a fine header.
A brace from Arda Güler
Villarreal's joy was short-lived. Real Madrid came up with a fine piece of football just a minute later to make it 1-3. Modrić sent the ball to Brahim, who played in Lucas Vázquez with a brilliant flick. The Galician finished with a left-footed shot inside the box. This was not however the last goal of the first half. Arda Güler, who received a pass from Lucas Vázquez inside the area, beat Jorgensen with a left-footed shot. It was the Turk's sixth goal in LaLiga and a display of clinical finishing from the league champions.
Villarreal hit back after the break and Sorloth was on target again, with another header in the 48th minute. The match was 2-4 and the Norwegian scored again four minutes later after a beautiful individual move. The home side pushed forward and found an equaliser in the 56th minute on a counter-attack with Sorloth finishing the move. All square with more than half an hour to go, though Madrid had a chance to score their fifth goal in the 79th minute after a beautiful move by Rodrygo, in which he beat three opponents in the box, but was denied by the post. A draw at the Estadio de la Cerámica and Real Madrid will wrap up their league campaign against Betis before the Champions League final on 1 June.