Come-from-behind Real open up La Liga race
Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale both scored as Real Madrid staged a remarkable late comeback from two goals down to win 3-2 at Villarreal and stay top of La Liga on Sunday.
Substitute Alvaro Morata got the winner in the 83rd minute to complete a 19-minute turnaround that keeps Zinedine Zidane’s side on course for their first La Liga triumph since 2012.
Real are top on 55 points, one ahead of Barcelona who beat Atletico Madrid 2-1, and three clear of Sevilla, while Zidane’s side have a game in hand on both of their title rivals.
Villarreal’s Manu Trigueros lashed home from inside the area to put the hosts ahead five minutes after the break and Cedric Bakambu doubled the lead in the 57th with a fine finish past Keylor Navas, though he was fortunate not to be ruled offside.
Real looked destined for a second loss in a week on the east coast after Wednesday’s 2-1 reverse at Valencia but Bale, making his first start since November, headed a goal back in the 64th before Ronaldo levelled with a penalty 10 minutes later.
Morata then headed Marcelo’s cross under Villarreal’s substitute goalkeeper Andres Fernandez, who had replaced first choice Sergio Asenjo when he sustained a muscle injury after making a stunning save to deny Karim Benzema.
“We had to change something when the score was 2-0, that’s whatwedidanditworkedwell because we weren’t playing well, it was an attacking change which allowed us to play in our opponents’ half,” Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane told reporters.
“We knew they’d cause us problems as they’re so good at home and after they scored twice we had to be patient and play our game. Given what happened (earlier) today it was vital to get the three points and leave here as leaders.”
“You can clearly see I couldn’t have done anything, the ball bounced up towards my arm and I can’t cut my arm off. It’s a bounce and it’s clear to me it wasn’t a penalty,” Bruno said.
Villarreal coach Fran Escriba and unused substitute Roberto Soldado were dismissed from the dugout for protesting and Escriba said the decision was not in line with the rules.
“I respect referees a lot but every year we are told that a rebound does not warrant a penalty for handball and he interpreted it another way,” the coach said.
“We were doing well but after 2-2 we completely lost our focus and it was very difficult to get over that.”
Villarreal suffered another setback when goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo tore a cruciate knee ligament after making a save to deny Benzema and substitute Andres Fernandez was a less able replacement, allowing Morata’s header to squeeze under his body.
“The players told me it was a penalty, I couldn’t see it where I was but I’m never going to complain about referees,” said Zidane.
“We did very good things in the second half, we were much better than in the first and in the end we’ve got three vital points for us,” he added. Messi added to his impressive scoring run this season with an 86th-minute winner at Atletico’s Vicente Calderon Stadium,
It was his 35th goal in 35 games, and 11th in the last 10 league games. His league-leading 20th goal also secured the Argentina star his 400th victory since officially debuting with Barcelona in 2004.
The late goal marked the latest blow dealt by Messi against Atletico - the team he has scored the most goals against in his career. It was his 27th goal against the Madrid club.
Barcelona has won five of the last six league games against Atletico, which hasn’t beaten its rival in the last seven games at home dating back to 2010.
“Unfortunately we have not been getting good results against them, but in all these matches we have played well and shown that we could win,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said.
Atletico, which had won four in a row at home and was unbeaten in eight league matches, dropped nine points off the lead.
“We have to stay calm,” Simeone said. “The goal doesn’t change.”