VILLARREAL DEFEATS REAL MADRID 2-1 TO STALL HOPES TO LEAD BARCELONA IN LA LIGA.

Real Madrid squandered a chance to put pressure on La Liga leader Barcelona in the title race on Saturday, falling 2-1 at Villarreal.

Yeremy Pino and Gerard Moreno’s goals either side of Karim Benzema’s penalty were enough to give the hosts their sixth straight win in all competitions and dent the Spanish champions’ bid to retain the trophy.

Madrid is level on points with league leader Barcelona, which faces Atletico Madrid on Sunday, and the country’s two titans appear destined to compete for the title themselves this season.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side overtook Barcelona last weekend after Xavi’s team drew with Espanyol in the Catalan derby, but Madrid have not started 2023 well.

Madrid’s narrow Spanish Cup victory over Cacereno was followed by this bruising wake-up call at the newly renovated and reopened Estadio de la Ceramica, its second league defeat.

According to Spanish media, Ancelotti chose a Madrid starting lineup without a single Spanish player for the first time in the club’s history.

Los Blancos have struggled away at Villarreal in recent years, with only two wins in 11 visits, the most recent in 2017 when Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Alvaro Morata all scored.

After a shaky start for the former Barcelona coach, Quique Setien’s side completely outplayed Madrid in the first half, albeit without the goal they craved.

With a wonderful flick from Alberto Moreno’s cross, Francis Coquelin hit the post, while Dani Parejo fired wide.

Gerard Moreno played in Yeremy Pino, but Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved him brilliantly as he attempted to dribble around him.

As Villarreal carved open Madrid’s sluggish defense at will, Alex Baena drilled one effort wide and curled another narrowly over.

Madrid, still reeling from the World Cup break, began to claw its way back towards the end of the first half.

When racing through on goal with Vinicius in support, Benzema made a poor decision, colliding with last man Raul Albiol instead of springing the Brazilian.

When the French forward did eventually set up Vinicius, he was denied by veteran goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who took over after Geronimo Rulli left Ajax.