Real Madrid's unbeaten run in La Liga came to a halt on Saturday as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Villarreal at the Estadio de la Ceramica. The result leaves Carlo Ancelotti's side in second place, three points behind leaders Barcelona, who secured a 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao earlier in the day.
Match Highlights
Villarreal took an early lead through Arnaut Danjuma in the 10th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error from Real Madrid. However, the visitors responded swiftly, with Karim Benzema equalizing in the 20th minute after a brilliant assist from Vinicius Junior. The French striker slotted home his 10th goal of the season to bring the score level.
Real Madrid dominated possession in the second half and took the lead in the 64th minute when Luka Modric scored a stunning long-range effort. The Croatian midfielder's strike appeared to put the defending champions in control, but Villarreal refused to back down.
Late Drama
With just 10 minutes remaining, Villarreal earned a penalty after a handball by Eder Militao. Gerard Moreno stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick to make it 2-2. Despite late pressure from Real Madrid, the hosts held on for a valuable point.
The draw ends Real Madrid's seven-match winning streak in all competitions and gives Barcelona a three-point cushion at the summit. Ancelotti expressed disappointment after the match, stating, "We had control of the game but made mistakes that cost us. We need to learn from this and move forward."
Barcelona Maintain Lead
Earlier on Saturday, Barcelona edged past Athletic Bilbao 1-0 at the Camp Nou, thanks to a first-half header from Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker connected with a cross from Raphinha in the 34th minute to secure a hard-fought victory for Xavi's side.
Barcelona have now won six of their last seven league matches and remain unbeaten at home this season. The win keeps them top of the table with 41 points from 17 games, three ahead of Real Madrid.
Looking Ahead
Real Madrid will look to bounce back when they host Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu next weekend, while Barcelona travel to face Real Sociedad in what promises to be a challenging encounter.
