Real Remain Top Despite Dropping Points At Home
26 September, 2021
Real Madrid missed the chance to open a five-point lead at the top of the LaLiga table after they were held to a goalless draw by Villarreal on Saturday evening.
LaLiga
Result: Real Madrid 0-0 Villarreal
Date: 25 September 2021
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
Los Blancos made two changes from their big win over Mallorca, as Luka Modric and Casemiro were recalled in place of Miguel Gutierrez and Eduardo Camavinga.
The Yellow Submarine found a lot of space behind the Madrid defence in the opening exchanges, with Arnaut Danjuma going very close to giving the visitors the lead in the 13th minute with a cracking low strike across goal that was tipped wide by the out-stretched hands of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
While Carlo Ancelotti's charges struggled to carve out chances in the first half, Danjuma was presented with another chance to break the deadlock for Unai Emery's men seven minutes before the half-time break after his turn inside the box set him clear on goal at the back post but he hit the side-netting with a looping strike.
Ancelotti introduced Camavinga in place of Rodrygo at halftime and that gave Madrid a different dimension going forward, as Eder Militao came close to breaking the deadlock five minutes inside the second stanza with a powerful header after a free-kick by Marco Asensio.
Villarreal were still a threat on counter-attacks and they had a good chance just before the hour-mark after Paco Alcacer went through on goal on the right side of the box and played a decisive square pass that lacked just a tap-in at the back post.
The intensity of the game slowed down in the latter stages which saw Ancelotti make an attacking change in the last 17 minutes as Eden Hazard replaced Modric.
The game was on the edge in the dying minutes, with Los Blancos keeping Villarreal in their own half but the visitors stood firm, as the sides shared the spoils.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za
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