Real Madrid's foreign legion falls head first onto cold marble
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 07.01.23. | 20:22
Villarreal get the biggest win of the season against La Liga leaders
Real Madrid suffered their second defeat of the season as Villarreal outclassed the reigning Champions at their El Madrigal on Saturday night.
A goal from Yeremy Pino just after the break gave Yellow Submarine a well-deserved lead, but Karim Benzema levelled from the spot after a soft penalty was awarded for the visitors.
Quique Setien's side, building confidence after a tough start for the former Barcelona coach, comprehensively outplayed Madrid in the first half, albeit without the goal they craved. Francis Coquelin hit the post with a wonderful flick from Alberto Moreno's cross, while Dani Parejo fired wide.
However, a meek David Alaba handball gave Gerard Moreno a chance to restore the lead from the penalty spot just three minutes later and the experienced striker made no mistake.
This match will be remembered not just because Los Blancos' snag in the title race, but also because their coach Carlo Ancelotti fielded a team that had no Spanish players in the starting eleven for the first time in this century.
Real Madrid remain level on points with league leaders Barcelona, who face Atletico Madrid on Sunday, and this season the country's two giants seem destined to tussle over the title themselves.
Los Blancos have struggled away at Villarreal in recent years, with two wins in 11 visits, the last coming in 2017 when Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Alvaro Morata were on the scoresheet.
Foreign legion that loses? It's possible!
LA LIGA - Round 16
Friday
Elche - Celta 0-1 (0-1)
/Aspas 5/
Valencia - Cadiz 0-1 (0-1)
/Alcaraz 9/
Saturday
Villarreal - Real Madrid 2-1 (0-0)
/Pino 47, Moreno 63 pen - Benzema 60 pen/
20:30: (2.00) Mallorca (3.30) Valladolid (4.00)
23:00: (2.35) Espanyol (3.30) Girona (3.35)
Sunday
16:00: (3.90) Almeria (3.50) Sociedad (2.05)
18:15: (2.50) Rayo Vallecano (3.05) Betis (3.05)
20:30: (1.85) Sevilla (3.35) Getafe (4.70)
23:00: (3.10) Atl.Madrid (3.35) Barcelona (2.45)
Monday
23:00: (1.70) Ath.Bilbao (3.60) Osasuna (5.40)
***odds are subject to change***
