
Ronaldo’s touch is off tonight, he attempts to lay it off to James and it’s well short.
Villarreal scamper away as the groans begin to echo around the Bernabeu.
James now has 30 assists as a Real Madrid player, since he joined, only Ronaldo has made more (36).
Kroos with a vicious strike from range that sends the ball moving in several directions.
Asenjo grabs the ball at the second time of asking. The pressure is ramping up on the visitors.
Lucas then chips it to the back post and Morata’s powerful header is driven down to force Asenjo to punch over the cross bar.
Meanwhile, Barcelona and Atletico are warming up...
Sigue en directo el calentamiento en https://t.co/1tz3Sktb1f #FCBAtleti#FCBlive pic.twitter.com/TFda4UOqto— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) September 21, 2016
Trigueros once again trying to inject some thought into these rare Villarreal attacks.
Pato involved too and wisely spreading play, rather than going for glory as the shot opened up.
Castillejo’s energy is still there and he breaks forward to allow Villareal to earn a corner. Time running out for Real now, just 10 remaining to find a goal and the all-time La Liga record for most consecutive wins.
Rather ambitious penalty appeal from Benzema as Ruiz nudges the back of his legs on the byline.
Nothing there as the referee waves play on. Ronaldo then has a speculative effort that sails over - he’s been poor tonight.
Benzema jumps high and directs a header narrowly over - should do better. It’s the last action of the game for him, as Morata replaces him with 15 minutes remaining.
🔁 77' Tercer y último cambio para el Real Madrid. Sale @Benzema y entra@AlvaroMorata.#RMLiga pic.twitter.com/VBReTgocOk— Real Madrid C. F. (@realmadrid) September 21, 2016
Vazquez is on for Real and it’s surprisingly Bale who makes way.
The Welshman was the best of the BBC tonight, but Vazquez should offer plenty of width and energy.
Meanwhile Pato is on for Sansone, who rather lethargically trudges off. The Italian has worked hard tonight and appears exhausted.
Castillejo with a rare sight of goal: he dips inside and sends a fierce strike towards goal.
It bounces just in front of Casilla, who spills it briefly before regathering.
Villarreal with a mini-revival as Bruno attempts to calm the visitors down. Ronaldo with a nasty clip on the Spain international a moment ago to give the Yellow Submarines a breather.
Villarreal send on Roberto Soriano for Cheryshev, who receives a round of applause from the Real Madrid faithful.
Benzema swivels on the edge of the area and finds Bale on the right. The Welshman passes the ball a fraction wide of the far post.
Villarreal living dangerously now!
Real in behind again and this time it’s Carvajal, who drives it across the face of the goal.
Ronaldo stretches at the back post after getting free from Mario, but can’t quite reach it.
There’s agony all over the Portuguese’s face as he clatters into the post and punches the turf.
Lucas Vazquez is warming up for Real Madrid with Zidane keen to continue this high-tempo, fast attack.
James now drifting to the left and whipping in crosses resembling his assist for Morata in the Champions League.
Danilo then drives forward and his hauled down with a super challenge from Bruno on the edge of the area.
Benzema is now unmarked and he flicks his header narrowly wide of the far left post.
Villarreal are sleeping here and the Bernabeu has come to life.
Kroos is purring in the midfield with some excellent passes to keep the momentum high. Tough ask for Villarreal now.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Villarreal (Ramos)
Back underway at the Bernabeu and Danilo is lining up on the left to replace Marcelo and Carvajal on the right.
Asenjo drops Kroos’ free-kick and it falls to Ramos with the goal at his mercy, but Ruiz blocks it.
Then the Real captain leaps high at the back post to make amends and drives the ball into the bottom left corner. Great goal!
48' ¡GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL de @SergioRamos!@realmadrid 1-1@VillarrealCF#RMLiga #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/yIApSkVSkd— Real Madrid C. F. (@realmadrid) September 21, 2016
Can Real turn it around?
Zidane will have to spark a reaction from this lethargic Real side.
It’s too slow through the middle and the BBC are not working in conjunction with the rest of the side.
You would expect Real to score at home, stats show they have only failed to do so three times in the last 83 matches. Will they have enough to claim the record though?
HT: Real Madrid 0-1 Villarreal
Well, well, well, this wasn’t how it was meant to be, was it?
Ronaldo is not sharp, clearly, neither Benzema, it’s far too slow, isn’t it?
Villarreal, to their credit, are bold on the ball and Trigueros is really making them tick. A deserved lead with the threat of Sansone on the break always making Real vulnerable at the breakdown.
Real Madrid go behind for the 1st time in @LaLigaEN since Apr 23, when Rayo led 2-0 after 14 mins (Real Madrid went on to win 3-2)pic.twitter.com/pDenAylPZx— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) September 21, 2016
GOAL! Real Madrid 0-1 Villarreal (Bruno)
That is as audacious a penalty as you will see!
Bruno Soriano uses the Panenka to chip it down the middle and past the diving Casilla.
Gorgeous technique and what nerve! 1-0 to Villarreal!
45' 0-1 | GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL!!! Bruno the captain with a cheeky chip! COME ON YOU YELLOWSSSSS!!!! #RealMadridVillarreal #CVFEnglish— Villarreal CF (@VillarrealCF) September 21, 2016
Sansone’s speed puts him through on goal and it just bobbles away from him.
The Italian moves it wide to Cheryshev, but Real escape, what a let-off!
Then Trigueros lashes a curling effort towards goal and Ramos handballs it. PENALTY!
Trigueros driving the visitors forward in transitions well and he picks out Sansone pulling away off the last man.
The ball is just too heavy and drags the Italian wide with plenty of space to hurt Real. A let-off for the hosts.
Zidane has sent Carvajal on for the injured Marcelo, who limps off.
38' 0-0 | Sansone gets to the byline and pulls back a cross but Madrid clear. Yellows gettting closer here #RealMadridVillarreal #CVFEnglish— Villarreal CF (@VillarrealCF) September 21, 2016
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Real now resorting to pot shots from distance and Danilo is the first to cut inside and strike towards goal.
Ruiz blocks well and then Kroos lashes the follow-up but finds Villarreal are quickly out to narrow the angle and make another block.
A first sighter for Bale, too, who catches it cleanly, but is unable to guide it on target and watches it zip past the right post.
Denis Cheryshev has Villarreal's 1st shot on target -Real Madrid have conceded only 1 first half goal in their 13 home league games in 2016pic.twitter.com/pMmCLLt6Be— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) September 21, 2016
Real continue to earn yet more corner kicks and fail to test Villarreal.
Benzema works a yard of space and lays off to Ronaldo, whose short back-lift enables him to get a shot off.
It sails harmlessly over the bar as Asenjo waves it over.
Máxima igualdad en los primeros compases del #RealMadridVillarreal y del#CeltaSporting— LaLiga (@LaLiga) September 21, 2016
Sigue el minuto a minuto ➡️ https://t.co/yPKBIB3vN6pic.twitter.com/pBg1K8dNB2
Excellent long-throw by Bale to find Benzema high up the pitch.
The Frenchman turns and finds space on the edge of the D and finds Ronaldo, who is dispossessed easily.
Villarreal then force a good stop from Casilla, with Cheryshev’s fierce effort tipped over the bar.
Sansone then acrobatically leaps at the back post to volley a corner narrowly wide. Better from the visitors!
Cheryshev coming inside to link nicely with Trigueros, who passes well through the lines.
The Russian flicks it back outside to Jose Angel in a neat move by the visitors.
Sansone also drifting to his natural left-sided role without much success, but Villarreal’s movement is impressing.
Some good work from James to press hard when without the ball.
The Colombian pesters Trigueros, who is forced to pass it out and turn the ball over.
Real lacking a little pace when moving the ball so far, but receiving plenty of possession.
Disappointing delivery from Marcelo with the Brazilian’s cross miles over the bar with Real committing plenty into the Villarreal box.
Bale then meets another delivery at the back post and heads it across to Benzema.
His header is knocked down but balloons up off Musacchio and Asenjo is able to palm it away.
Reencuentro de @Cheryshev con sus antiguos compañeros en el túnel de vestuarios del Bernabéu.#RealMadridVillarreal pic.twitter.com/hd9WLKP5Zj— LaLiga (@LaLiga) September 21, 2016
Dos Santos blocks James’ header at the near post from another corner, which seems to be where Real are finding most joy in an attacking sense so far.
A loose ball almost falls kindly for Benzema, but the Yellow Submarines deflect it away for another corner.
Escriba’s side are brave in possession, despite the waves of Real attacks coming their way. Castillejo particularly good on the ball and spreading it wide to Jose Angel, who is pushing on down the left.
9' 0-0 | Danilo's cross to Benzema is cut out by @MateoMusacchio5. Real Madrid have their third corner. #RealMadridVillarreal #CVFEnglish— Villarreal CF (@VillarrealCF) September 21, 2016
Bale stretching his legs down the right and delivering a dangerous ball into the box.
The delivery from the corner almost finds Ronaldo, who can’t stretch enough to reach it.
Villarreal comfortable enough so far after eight minutes.
We are go at the Bernabeu!
Villarreal with plenty of men behind the ball and blocking the central routes to goal.
Marcelo already rampaging on from left-back, with Danilo likewise involved high up to transform Real into something resembling a 2-5-3.
¡Arranca el encuentro ante el @VillarrealCF!— Real Madrid C. F. (@realmadrid) September 21, 2016
¡HASTA EL FINAL, VAMOS REAL! #RMLiga #HalaMadrid
The BBC started just 14 games together last season for Real Madrid.
Despite a lack of continuity as a trio, they combined for 46 goals together.
Tonight they will hope to spark that fluidity that could earn their first La Liga title since 2012.
Real Madrid have lost just 3 matches vs Villarreal in the last 20 years [out of 34 matches].— Real Madrid Stats (@RMadrid_Stats) September 21, 2016
Villarreal's danger man: Nico Sansone
One of the sensations of this season could be Italian Nico Sansone of Villarreal.
The former Sassuolo star has hit the ground running in Spain since his big-money move.
The 25-year-old has three in his last two and his red-hot form could be a real threat to the hosts.
⌛🙌🏟— Real Madrid C. F. (@realmadrid) September 21, 2016
¡Faltan 10 minutos para que empiece a rodar el balón en el Bernabéu!#RMLiga#HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/mp068l39j7
Zidane will be delighted with his side’s start to the season.
They have been perfect from four games and have the luxury of a three point cushion over Barcelona already.
Now the French tactician can line up the BBC in their first La Liga start as a trio.
The BBC get their first #LaLiga start for Real Madrid, Cheryshev lines up against his former club for Villarreal.#VillarrealRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/WAOjqrHS34— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) September 21, 2016
Villarreal attempting to break horror record vs Real
Real Madrid have dominated Villarreal in recent times.
Los Merengues have won 13 of the last 16 matches in all competitions, losing none.
After 16 straight La Liga wins, Villarreal are up against it to snap that run tonight.
El Villarreal y el @realmadrid ya calientan sobre el césped del Santiago Bernabéu. 25 minutos para el partido. #RealMadridVillarrealpic.twitter.com/aM6oYZzJAE— Villarreal CF (@VillarrealCF) September 21, 2016
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment