Villarreal secured only their third ever win over Real Madrid at El Madrigal to close out Jornada 15.
An eighth-minute goal from Roberto Soldado was all that separated the sides as Villarreal move just one point away from the top four.
Real Madrid were underwhelming away from home as Rafa Benitez’s men were overwhelmed by Marcelino’s charges in the first half before being unable to penetrate the Yellow Submarine back line in a much improved second.
Soldado’s goal came from a mistake from Luka Modric who spent too long on the ball as he was disposed by Bruno for the home side. The ball fell to the feet of Cedric Bakambu who squared to Soldado to poke home through Keylor Navas’ legs.
The away side’s best opportunity came from swift attacking play by Gareth Bale, who received the ball and ran full steam at the Villarreal defence. With Victor Ruiz unable to catch the flying Welshman, Bale unleashed a shot that was tipped away by Alphonse Areola in the Villarreal goal.
Real Madrid would continue to pepper the home side’s goal but could not find the net as Villarreal held on for a momentous victory.
Formations
Marcelino made the bold move of sticking to his tried and tested 4-4-2 instead of switching to a more defensive formation. Bakambu and Soldado started up top for the Yellow Submarine while in the back line Mateo Musacchio returned from an eight-month injury lay-off for his first start in La Liga this season. Eric Bailly started on the right side of defence due to injuries to Mario and Antonio Rukavina.
Villarreal XI (4-4-2): Areola (GK); Costa, Musacchio, Ruiz, Bailly; Suarez, Trigueros, Bruno, Dos Santos; Bakambu, Soldado.
Rafa Banitez sent out his men in a very free 4-3-3. The trident of Ronaldo, Benzema and Bale retained their places up front while there was a surprise inclusion for Casemiro in place of Tony Kroos. Marcelo and Sergio Ramos both returned for the away side after injury.
Real Madrid XI (4-3-3): Navas (GK); Marcelo, Ramos, Pepe, Danilo; Modric, Casemiro, James; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Villarreal set up shop in their own half
During the first half, Villarreal had the majority of the ball and the better opportunites going forward, but in the second it was all Real Madrid. This would have been the assumed script for the whole match as the combined talents of the Galacticos overshadow those of the Yellow Submarine.
To their credit, Villarreal defended with heart and solidarity but it did mean spending an awful long amount of time in their own half.
The defensive work of Captain Bruno cannot be overlooked as the tireless midfielder worked to get to every ball as he provided four interceptions and four clearances.
Shooting practice needed in the capital
Ronaldo took five shots, Benzema four, Bale three and James three. In total the Real Madrid side had 20 shots against Villarreal, but not only did they not score, but tested Areola in the home side’s goal only once.
To his credit, Ronaldo did hit the post, but from a tight angle that did not ever seem likely to go in.
More time on the training pitch will be needed in front of goal, but not only to get the ball on target but knowing when to take the shot. Many of Madrid’s shots were taken out of frustration and were the wrong decision when the pass was the better option.
While it is possible to score from anywhere it was just not Madrid’s day as their strikes were going anywhere but the back of the net.
Marcelo caused havoc down the left
With Eric Bailly playing out of position at right-back, it was his side that Los Blancos targeted the most. While Ronaldo was ineffective it was the returning Marcelo who was causing the Ivorian real headaches.
Defence was the furthest thing from the Brazilian’s mind as his marauding runs took him far deeper into Villarreal’s half than he was in his own.
Marcelo was having a field day down the left and provided 11 crosses for his forwards to attack. His game-high 1o take-ons means that he was the most confident players on the field and while Ronaldo in front of him struggled, Marcelo flourished.
Musacchio makes a welcome return
In just his second start in eight months, the first coming in midweek Europa League action, Mateo Musacchio looks to have not lost any of the talent that put him on the radar of some of Europe’s top clubs.
The Argentine centre-back made a welcome return to La Liga action and proved to be one of the best on the park for Villarreal.
With an 87% pass success rate, four interceptions and eight clearances, Musacchio helped his side to the three points that will be vital for the Yellow Submarine in the quest for European qualification.
Villarreal Conclusion
The Yellow Submarine will obviously come out of this as the much happier side. Three points against Real Madrid for only the third time in the club’s history is hopefully a good sign for the team going forward.
Trailing fourth-place Celta Vigo by only one point, and with a four-point gap back to sixth-placed Deportivo La Coruna, the Yellow Submarine are finding the form that had them top of the table earlier this season.
Real Madrid Conclusion
Rafa Benitez will be in the firing line after his side somehow conjured up a loss here. Twenty shots for no goals is not good enough in a white shirt and on a weekend when Barcelona drew, this was a must win game for the capital club.
They will go away rueing missed chances knowing that had they been able to put a few on target, they could be sitting only two points off top. Instead, Real Madrid are five back and a title challenge is looking dire already.
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