Real beaten by Villarreal 1-0, Atletico joint top
MADRID: Real Madrid’s La Liga title hopes were dealt another huge blow as they suffered a third league defeat in five games to Roberto Soldado’s solitary goal at Villarreal on Sunday.
Atletico Madrid’s 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao earlier in the day means Real now trail their city rivals and Barcelona by five points at the top of the table.
Real were outplayed in the firsthalf, but reacted after the break and were left to rue a hat-trick of missed chances by troubled French striker Karim Benzema as defeat piles the pressure on under-fire coach Rafael Benitez.
Real had won five consecutive games since being thrashed 4-0 at home by Barca last month, but were forced onto the back foot by a whirlwind start from Villarreal.
“I am not happy at all with the first half and I think the reaction in the second half is the route we have to follow,” said Benitez.
“Unfortunately, today it has cost us three points.”
Jonathan dos Santos had already smacked the inside of the post before Soldado turned home Cedric Bakambu’s pass against his old club on eight minutes.
Bakambu had two great chances to double Villarreal’s advantage before half-time, but the Congolese striker pulled his shot wide when clean through on Keylor Navas before firing over from inside the area.
Having been dominated in the first half, Madrid came out a different side after the break and had a series of chances to turn the game on its head. BENITEZ BEMOANS LACK OF PRECISION
Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez criticised his players for a poor first-half performance and a lack of accuracy in front of goal in the second after Sunday’s defeat.
Benitez, who took over from Carlo Ancelotti after the Italian was sacked at the end of last season, has been blamed by the fans for Real’s woes and was roundly whistled before Tuesday’s Champions League game at home to Malmo.
Some players also seem unimpressed with Benitez, dressing room heavyweights Cristiano Ronaldo and Toni Kroos saying in interviews published this week how much they miss Ancelotti.
Benitez had little to offer in the way of explanations. “These are things that sometimes happen,” he said. “We were not good in the first half and in the second we lacked precision,” he added.
“To fight for the league title you have to win a lot of matches and one like today’s is where we have to be strong.”