Real Madrid 2-3 Villarreal: Los Blancos throw away lead on two occasions as Samuel Chukwueze stuns the Bernabeu

A brilliant Samuel Chukwueze winner saw Villarreal beat Real Madrid 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu to surely end the hosts’ title defence.

The scoreline also kept Villarreal’s Champions League push on track and was a fair reflection of a frantic game.

Much-changed Madrid took the lead through a Pau Torres own goal, which owed much to good work from Marco Asensio, but their control of the match loosened and Villarreal’s equaliser was deserved when it came.

Chukwueze delivered that equaliser in style, leaving his marker for dead with quick feet and a shimmy before slotting home.

Vinicius Junior restored Madrid’s lead three minutes into the second half with a solo goal as good as Chukwueze’s, this time weaving between two players via a nutmeg and poking into the net.

But Villarreal again levelled, scoring after a VAR check overruled an offside call on Jose Luis Morales, before Chukwueze won it with a stunning strike from the edge of the box, curling into the top corner.

The hosts had a penalty overturned by a VAR review as they pushed for a late leveller, plus Asensio missed the target from a promising 97th-minute free-kick.

Madrid remain 12 points behind leaders Barcelona having played a game more, while Villarreal are only four points shy of a Champions League spot.

TALKING POINT – Madrid get glimpse of life without Modric and Kroos

Niether Luka Modric nor Toni Kroos started, while Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga were also rested – meaning it was an entirely new midfield for Real Madrid. In that sense they got a taste of what life may be like after the 37-year-old Modric and 33-year-old Kroos are unavailable for selection, and did not like it. While the hosts did move the ball quickly and frequently got it forward, they lacked control and this tempo allowed Villarreal to consistently counter. Hence Madrid twice surrendering the lead and ultimately went on to lose.

Despite Aurelien Tchouameni’s best attempts to guard the defence – which itself looked shaky – the unit was exposed on multiple occasions before he made way, plus more after. The good news is a midfield trio of Tchouameni, Asensio and Dani Ceballos is unlikely to be the post-Modric and Kroos plan. Asensio is perhaps too attack-minded, Ceballos is simply not good enough and the likes of Valverde and Camavinga would surely be picked ahead of them. This was an illustrative night for Madrid, especially when it comes to succession planning for this storied midfield.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal)

Scored two great goals and made the other. Almost all of Villarreal’s threatening moments involved Chukwueze and this was an easy choice, despite Vinicius’ impressive outing in its own right.

PLAYER RATINGS

Real Madrid: Courtois 6, Nacho 5, Rudiger 4, Alaba 4, Vazquez 6, Tchouameni 6, Ceballos 5, Asensio 6, Rodrygo 6, Vinicius 8, Benzema 5. Subs: Militao 6, Modric 6, Camavinga 7.

Villarreal: Reina 7, Foyth 5, Mandi 6, Torres 6, Pedraza 6, Terrats 4, Parejo 6, Baena 5, Lo Celso 6, Chukwueze 10, Pino 6. Subs: Trigueros 6, Alberto Moreno 6, Morales 7, Femenia n/a, Mojica n/a.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

REAL TAKE THE LEAD 16′ – Vinicius gets past Foyth and cuts back for Asensio who in turn hits a low cross which goes in off Torres. Asensio played the initially ball for Vinicius too so was essential in that goal.

REINA TWICE TO THE RESCUE 19′ – Reina first saves a low Benzema shot well, then seconds later has to thwart Rodrygo one-on-one after the ball is not cleared.

CHUKWUEZE EQUALISES IN STYLE 39′ – With Alaba out of position, Chukwueze receives the ball, bamboozles Nacho with quick feet and slots home past Courtois.

VINICIUS SCORES SUPER SOLO GOAL 48′ – Vinicius plays a one-two with Ceballos, weaves his way through two defenders – nutmegging Mandi for good measure – before poking the ball past Reina.

VINICIUS WASTEFUL 54′ – Villarreal lose the ball cheaply, Real have a two-on-one and so Benzema squares for Vinicius, with just the goalkeeper to beat, but he drags the shot wide.

VILLARREAL BACK LEVEL 71′ – After a VAR check, offside is overturned and the goal stands! It all comes after Chukwueze is given too much space on the right, comes inside and crosses to cause chaos, with Morales stabbing home.

CHUKWUEZE SCREAMER 80′ – Chukwueze has done it again! He cuts onto his left foot and unleashes a vicious strike from outside the box which nestles in the top corner to give Villarreal the lead!

KEY STAT

Villarreal have done the La Liga double over Real Madrid for the first time ever.