VILA-REAL, SPAIN (REUTERS) - Real Madrid endured a frustrating start to the new year as they drew 2-2 at struggling Villarreal on Thursday (Jan 3) and were left seven points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Midfielder Santi Cazorla gave the home side the lead in the fourth minute of the game, which was rescheduled due to Real's participation in last month's Club World Cup, by bending a wonderful shot into the bottom corner.
But the European champions struck back three minutes later with a headed goal from Karim Benzema after a sweeping attacking move.
Raphael Varane gave the visitors the lead in the 20th with a header from a free kick but it was former Arsenal midfielder Cazorla, who has overcome a terrible run of injuries to resurrect his career in Spain, who had the final say.
The diminutive 34-year-old Spaniard ghosted into the box undetected to nod home at the back post in the 82nd minute and give his side a deserved point in new coach Luis Garcia Plaza's first home game in charge.
Real have not won their opening away game of a new year since 2014, and Cazorla's late strike prevented them from going level on points with Sevilla and kept them in fourth place, seven behind leaders Barcelona after 17 games.
Apart from conceding the early goal, Real produced an impressive display in the first half but lost their grip on the game after Gareth Bale was substituted soon after the interval with a knock.
Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric, who helped set up the equaliser, followed Bale off the pitch midway through the second half and Villarreal, spurred on by their supporters, showed more intensity and wrestled back control of the play.
Cazorla's leveller followed a spell of pressure from the home side but Real could still have snatched a winner when substitute Isco burst into the area but was denied by Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo.
"It could be said the result was fair, we chased the victory and had it in our hands, we wanted to kill the game off and they put us under a lot of pressure as they were at home and they badly needed the points," Real coach Santiago Solari said.
"When Gareth came off we lost a bit of sharpness in attack, we still had the chance to score a couple but we needed to attack with more clarity." Villarreal, who have reached the last 32 of the Europa League despite a dire domestic season, clawed their way out of the relegation zone to 17th in the standings, level on points with 18th-placed Athletic Bilbao.
"This result will give us strength," said Villarreal coach Garcia, who has taken two points from two games since succeeding the sacked Javi Calleja.
"I imagine that every game from now on will be a battle, a war to survive but hopefully we'll come through it, and this point gives us a big emotional boost."
Football: Liverpool's TV income may top record £250 million
Football: Hougang United lose two-goal lead twice to draw 3-3 with 10-man Tampines Rovers SINGAPORE - Two months ago, Tampines Rovers had beaten Hougang United 5-1 at Jalan Besar Stadium on March 3 when Hougang midfielder Justin Hui was sent off in the 50th minute.
Heartbreak for Hougang again, Football News & Top Stories
Europa League semi-finals confirmed: Arsenal vs Valencia, Chelsea vs Eintracht Frankfurt Arsenal vs Valencia; But Arsenal coach Unai Emery knows he must field his strongest XI if he wants
Football: Free curry fish head, bak chor mee for Liverpool
Jun 02, 2019 · Mo Salah says photo of Kyiv pain inspired him to score against Spurs • Salah: 'I looked at the picture from last year before the game' • Striker says Champions League win can start
Mohamed Salah - Wikipedia
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is set to serve a second term after world football's governing body said on Wednesday he would be the only candidate for June's vote. The 48-year-old has been
Infantino re-elected FIFA president for four-year term | News
Kepa Arrizabalaga 'should be sacked' by Chelsea after Maurizio Sarri snub. The Blues keeper caused controversy after refusing to come off in the closing minutes of the Carabao Cup final.
KEPA IS A DISGRACE, SHOULD BE SACKED! - youtube.com
LONDON (REUTERS) - Chelsea put their tumultuous League Cup final defeat behind them to revive their top-four hopes with a 2-0 victory over stuttering Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on
Arrizabalaga dropped as Chelsea beat Tottenham 2-0 - Reuters
man city to get points deduction, cl ban & transfer ban? | football leaks allegations analysis
Manchester City could face a Uefa ban from Champions League
Mourinho heading back to the Bernabeu. Santiago Solari is set to be sacked imminently with Jose Mourinho to be confirmed as the next Real Madrid boss according to reports in Spain.
Mourinho To Be Confirmed As Real Madrid Boss Imminently
Chelsea's Giroud Seeks France Return To Boost Game Time Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud wants to move back to France when his contract expires at the end of the season after growing frustrated by
Olivier Giroud seeks France return to boost game time
Germany's teenage midfielder Giulia Gwinn scored a second-half winner as the two-time world champions edged past China 1-0 on Saturday in Rennes to kick-off their World Cup campaign. The 19-year
Giulia Gwinn scores Germany winner on Women's World Cup debut
Victor Lindelof missed Manchester United' s 2-1 win over Watford on Saturday after receiving Lindelof was absent for Sweden's 2-1 win against Romania and 3-3 draw with More On. Ole Gunnar
(L-R) Barcelona's French defender Samuel Umtiti, Barcelona's Spanish defender Gerard Pique and Barcelona's Spanish defender Jordi Alba celebrate after their team won the Spanish league football match against Deportivo Coruna and claimed their 25th La Liga at the Riazor stadium in Coruna on April 29, 2018.
Barcelona more solid at the back now since start of season
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen