Real Madrid falls into the networks of the ‘Submarino’
The goals from Yeremy Pino and Gerard Moreno prevent the white team from sleeping at the top of the table
MADRID, 7 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid were defeated on their visit to the renovated La Cerámica stadium, after losing (2-1) to Villarreal, on matchday 16 of LaLiga Santander, after a weak match for the white team that succumbed to the nets of a ‘Submarine Yellow’ that prevailed thanks to the goals of Yeremy Pino and Gerard Moreno.
Carlo Ancelotti’s pupils, who lived their league debut at Villarreal in 2023, lost their opportunity to place themselves at the top of the table, waiting for what FC Barcelona does at the Metropolitan this Sunday. The whites (38 points) will continue one more day behind the blaugrana (38), with one game less.
The meeting was one more example that brilliance is not at its best in Real Madrid after the break due to the World Cup, something more stuck and less extraordinary than usual. Villarreal, which already gave the impression of being a compact team with clear ideas, after a somewhat hesitant start with the arrival of Quique Setién, was clearly superior to the Real Madrid team.
Six wins in a row for the ‘groguets’, who are beginning to agree with the Cantabrian coach’s notebook. In fact, the local impetus soon turned into a clear dominance of those from Castellón, before a hesitant Real Madrid who took a long time to land in the game. Thus, Setién’s men had the first chances, with Gerard Moreno and Baena doing damage to the whites’ defence. Even Coquelin crashed a shot off the post before the fifth minute was up.
An overwhelming start of a ‘Yellow Submarine’ that did not want to give up possession until well into the first half. Even so, Carlo Ancelotti’s men ended up imposing the quality of their midfielder, with Modric and Kroos taking a step forward, to also threaten the goal defended by Pepe Reina.
A round-trip game that left an exchange of blows in the two areas before the break, but with a slightly more superior Villarreal. Yeremi Pino was able to put his team ahead after a one-on-one that Courtois ended up taking out and almost at the end Vinicius did not take advantage of a drop from Benzema in the small area, the result of a good intervention by Reina under the sticks.
The same script continued after the restart, although this time the locals found the prize of the goal. In the first play of the second half, Gerard Moreno took advantage of a defensive error by the Whites to assist Yeremy Pino who, this time, did not fail against Courtois. Hard blow for Real Madrid that without losing face to the game wanted to quickly counteract the blow.
Thus, ten minutes later, Benzema returned the tables to the scoreboard after failing to miss a penalty from eleven meters that the referee had to review due to a handball by Juan Foyth. But the whites’ joy did not last long when on the next play David Alaba touched another ball with his hand in the area, which this time without review, Gerard Moreno sent to save from the penalty spot.
From then on, Real Madrid turned their entire game into the rival field. However, the defensive solidity of the locals stopped the white arreón at times. The figure of Raúl Albiol or the insistence of Foyth to stop Vinicius were key to preventing the visiting momentum from approaching a possible comeback. Quique Setién’s men knew how to resist and even closed the clash with the opportunity to extend their income with a shot at an empty goal from Danjuma that he sent wide.
–RESULT: VILLARREAL, 2 – REAL MADRID, 1 (0-0, at halftime).
VILLARREAL: Queen; Moreno (Pedraza, min.72), Pau, Albiol, Foyth; Parejo, Coquelin (Trigueros, min.89), Baena; Chukwueze, Pino (Morales, min.80) and Gerard (Danjuma, min.89).
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Militao, Rüdiger, Praise, Mendy (Rodrygo, min.68); Tchouameni (Lucas Vázquez, min.64), Kroos, Modric (Camavinga, min.70); Valverde (Asensio, min.83), Vinicius and Benzema.
1-0, minuto 47. Yeremi Pino.
1-1, minute 60. Benzema (penalties).
2-1, minute 63. Gerard Moreno (penalties).
–REFEREE: Soto Grado (C. Riojano). He admonished Pau Torres (min.16), Raúl Albiol (min.76), Baena (min. 93) and Reina (min.95) for Villarreal, and Camavinga (min.97) for Real Madrid .
–STADIUM: La Cerámica.
