VILA-REAL, SPAIN (REUTERS) - Real Madrid endured a frustrating start to the new year as they drew 2-2 at struggling Villarreal on Thursday (Jan 3) and were left seven points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Midfielder Santi Cazorla gave the home side the lead in the fourth minute of the game, which was rescheduled due to Real's participation in last month's Club World Cup, by bending a wonderful shot into the bottom corner.
But the European champions struck back three minutes later with a headed goal from Karim Benzema after a sweeping attacking move.
Raphael Varane gave the visitors the lead in the 20th with a header from a free kick but it was former Arsenal midfielder Cazorla, who has overcome a terrible run of injuries to resurrect his career in Spain, who had the final say.
The diminutive 34-year-old Spaniard ghosted into the box undetected to nod home at the back post in the 82nd minute and give his side a deserved point in new coach Luis Garcia Plaza's first home game in charge.
Real have not won their opening away game of a new year since 2014, and Cazorla's late strike prevented them from going level on points with Sevilla and kept them in fourth place, seven behind leaders Barcelona after 17 games.
Apart from conceding the early goal, Real produced an impressive display in the first half but lost their grip on the game after Gareth Bale was substituted soon after the interval with a knock.
Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric, who helped set up the equaliser, followed Bale off the pitch midway through the second half and Villarreal, spurred on by their supporters, showed more intensity and wrestled back control of the play.
Cazorla's leveller followed a spell of pressure from the home side but Real could still have snatched a winner when substitute Isco burst into the area but was denied by Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo.
"It could be said the result was fair, we chased the victory and had it in our hands, we wanted to kill the game off and they put us under a lot of pressure as they were at home and they badly needed the points," Real coach Santiago Solari said.
"When Gareth came off we lost a bit of sharpness in attack, we still had the chance to score a couple but we needed to attack with more clarity." Villarreal, who have reached the last 32 of the Europa League despite a dire domestic season, clawed their way out of the relegation zone to 17th in the standings, level on points with 18th-placed Athletic Bilbao.
"This result will give us strength," said Villarreal coach Garcia, who has taken two points from two games since succeeding the sacked Javi Calleja.
"I imagine that every game from now on will be a battle, a war to survive but hopefully we'll come through it, and this point gives us a big emotional boost."
Need for Speed 2015 - Crack, Serial Key, Activation Code LX 743. Loading Unsubscribe from LX 743? Need for Speed Payback CPY Full Installation Tutorial - Duration: 4:20.
Need for Speed Payback License Activation Key generator
serialkeyactivation.com/download/Need for Speed Payback/
Need for Speed Payback License Activation Key generator! Need for Speed Payback Keygen is here and it is FREE and 100% working and legit. Before our system send cd key, you will need to pass this human verification step.
Football: Pep Guardiola sorry to have derailed Manuel Pellegrini's final days at Man City MANCHESTER (AFP) - Pep Guardiola has apologised if the early announcement of his arrival at Manchester City in 2016 destabilised his predecessor Manuel Pellegrini's attempt to win the quadruple.
Guardiola sorry to have derailed Pellegrini's final days at City
adtest.supersport.com/football/premier-league/news/190227/Guardiola_sorry_to_have_derailed_Pellegrinis_final_days_at_City
Pep Guardiola has apologised if the early announcement of his arrival at Manchester City in 2016 destabilised his predecessor Manuel Pellegrini's attempt to win the quadruple. Pellegrini will bring his West Ham side to Manchester on Wednesday, making his first visit to the Etihad for a match since City sacked him to make space for Guardiola.
Guardiola sorry to have derailed Pellegrini's final days at City
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has been charged with misconduct for his behaviour during Monday's 2-2 Premier League draw with Burnley, the English Football Association said. The Chelsea coach was
Chelsea's Sarri charged with misconduct over Burnley
English Premier League Molde owners will support me if I stay at Manchester United: Caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Solskjaer, who was loaned to United by Molde until the end of the season, said that the Norwegian club`s owners, businessmen Kjell Inge Rokke and Bjorn Rune Gjelsten, would support him if he stayed at United.
Football: Manchester United ticket campaign drops Ole Gunnar
Feb 11, 2016 · In Italy, a Top Club Stands Alone in Supporting Women's Soccer Image Noemi Fedele is a goalkeeper for Fiorentina, the only club in Italy's Serie A that operates a women's team.
Iran Football Headlines - آخرین اخبار فوتبال ایران
'No issue' with faith in youth, Football News & Top Stories
Football: After goalie Casillas' heart attack, wife Sara says
Real Madrid 1-4 Ajax: Brilliant visitors knock out Champions League holders Football Daily podcast: Real Madrid crash out but Spurs progress It is the first time Ajax have progressed in a
(Reuters) - Aston Villa beat Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion 4-3 on penalties to reach the Championship playoff final yesterday after the tie ended 2-2 on aggregate.
Villa into playoff final after shootout win over West Brom
MIAMI (AFP) - Fifa moved a step closer on Friday (March 15) to expanding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams and hopes to confirm the plans in June if a suitable co-host can be found.. Read
World Cup Streaming
AD
fanical.com/Womens-World-Cup
Report Ad
US Women's World Cup. Women's Soccer Blogs, Forums & News
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is relaxed about Mohamed Salah's goalscoring drought, saying the Egyptian forward remains a key part of the title chasers' attacking armoury. Salah, who scored 44
Klopp relaxed about Salah's Liverpool drought - World Soccer Talk
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/04/03/klopp-relaxed-about-salahs-liverpool-drought/
London (AFP) - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is relaxed about Mohamed Salah's goalscoring drought, saying the Egyptian forward remains a key part of the title chasers' attacking armoury. Salah, who scored 44 times in his maiden season at Anfield, has gone eight matches without finding the net bu
Jürgen Klopp unconcerned by Mohamed Salah's goal drought
Singaporean coach Akbar Nawas' Chennai City FC crowned new I-League champions in India Nawas took over as the head coach of the I-League club in March 2018 after previously serving as the
I-League winning coach Chennai City coach Akbar Nawas calls
Football: Klopp plays down Liverpool fatigue concerns ahead
Klopp calm for the run-in, Football News & Top Stories - The
0 comments:
Post a Comment