Villarreal 2-2 Real Madrid
Santi Cazorla scored twice tonight in front of 20,000 delighted fans at the Estadio de la Ceramica to grab a deserved draw for the Yellow Submarine.
It was the first La Liga game of 2019, and what a way to start! Title chasers Real Madrid came from behind to lead for over an hour before man-of-the-match Cazorla grabbed a late point. Villarreal returned from the winter break in relatively uncharted territory in the bottom three, but this point has lifted them out on goal difference.
More importantly, that’s three games unbeaten for Villarreal under Luis Garcia. To take a point from Santiago Solari’s Real Madrid will do wonders for the hosts’ confidence. Pre-match odds at SBOBET had the draw at 3.40, and it was a fair result.
Highlights of the game
The game began at breakneck speed with two goals in the opening seven minutes. Villarreal gave Los Blancos a warning shot on just two minutes when Samuel Chukwueze forced Thibaut Courtois to save low in the right corner, but the visitors didn’t heed the warning shot. When Chukwueze found Santi Cazorla in space on the left side of the box, the former Arsenal midfielder fired low into the opposite corner to stun the Madrid fans.
Los Blancos were back on their feet just three minutes later when Lucas Vazquez crossed for Karim Benzema to head low into the corner for his seventh of the league season. The French striker has been in the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo for much of his career at the Bernabeu, but he’s relishing his role this year and thriving as top scorer.
Benzema came close with another header from a Marcelo cross, but it wasn’t long before Los Blancos were ahead. Cazorla fouled Daniel Carvajal on the right wing, and from Toni Kroos’ perfect set-piece delivery, Raphael Varane planted his header home to make it 2-1 on 20 minutes. The centre-back had phoned the recently sacked coach Julen Lopetegui to apologise for his poor form, nice touch but the former boss could have done with a few more goals like that!
There wasn’t any let up in the frenetic pace of action as Cazorla crossed for Gerard Moreno, but his header was saved, and Cazorla was the supplier again for Chukwueze only to see his effort was blocked.
It was a cracking first half with shared possession and seven shots each, but Los Blancos had their noses in front.
Benzema was on the hunt again early in the second half, coming close with a shot from distance and Cazorla continued to push the hosts on, crossing for Victor Ruiz, but his header was high and wide. Gerard Moreno then took a pot shot from distance which flew narrowly past the post.
Villarreal keeper Sergio Asenjo kept his side in the game, saving a sharp effort from Vazquez low in the corner. Cazorla kept plugging away at the other end, crossing this time for Alvaro Gonzalez to head wide of Courtois’ goal.
Cazorla eventually got his reward, meeting a Pablo Fornals cross to head home and send the crowd wild.
Key statistics
The first of all the La Liga 2019 results has lifted the Yellow Submarine out of the drop zone and ended Real Madrid’s three-match winning run.
The hosts belied their lowly position, pretty much matching their illustrious visitors by having 12 shots to 14 and 46 per cent possession.
This result matched the 2-2 draw here in the 2017/18 when Villarreal took four points from Los Blancos.
What’s next?
On Sunday, Villarreal has a trip to the Basque country to play Eibar in 13th. And on a run of three draws, it’s a good chance for Garcia’s team to keep their unbeaten run going with confidence on the up.
La Liga has started 2019 just as it did in 2018 with Barcelona on top. Santiago Solari will be determined to break the Catalans’ stranglehold.
The La Liga 2019 betting odds have Barca as odds-on to win again, with the two Madrid giants neck and neck in the chase, but the gap between Los Blancos and the leaders is now seven points.
Up next, Solari’s men have a home game against Real Sociedad, a team on the slide down to 15th after four consecutive defeats. That’s a great opportunity for Real to get back to winning ways.
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