[ad_1]
A patched-up Real Madrid needed to grasp on for a 1-1 draw away at in-form Villarreal on Saturday, handing Barcelona and Atletico Madrid the possibility to capitalise in La Liga. Barca and Atletico face one another on the Wanda Metropolitano afterward Saturday, when victory for both facet would now show much more worthwhile after one other stumble from the reigning champions. Mariano Diaz gave Real Madrid the lead after simply 105 seconds however Zinedine Zidane’s staff pale at La Ceramica and Villarreal claimed a deserved level by means of Gerard Moreno’s second-half penalty.
Mariano was nearly bought final summer season however needed to stand in for Karim Benzema, who’s injured, and Luka Jovic, who examined optimistic for coronavirus on Friday.
Sergio Ramos and Casemiro have been additionally lacking following the worldwide break.
Given their absentees, a draw might not fear Zidane an excessive amount of, significantly in opposition to a Villarreal facet who sat second at kick-off after 4 victories on the bounce.
But one other slip means Madrid have now gained solely three of their final seven video games in all competitions, with an important go to to Inter Milan to come back within the Champions League on Wednesday.
If Atletico Madrid beat Barcelona they’ll transfer three factors away from their metropolis rivals, with a sport in hand, and 9 forward of Barca.
Mariano had not began for Real Madrid since May 2019, when he once more scored early in opposition to Villarreal after simply 83 seconds.
He was not far behind this time, heading in Dani Carvajal’s cross after Villarreal’s defence had stopped for an offside on Lucas Vazquez that by no means materialised.
Villarreal more and more took cost of the sport, their slick passing giving a way of management however few probabilities, the perfect of them within the first half falling to Dani Parejo, who nodded over.
But Madrid appeared to tire because the match wore on and Villarreal’s stress turned extra threatening within the final 20 minutes, with Moreno flashing huge from the angle after which Parejo lacking the goal from a cutback.
Promoted
The equaliser was late however deserved, as Thibaut Courtois flew out to fulfill a through-ball for Moreno however arrived second and fouled the striker together with his palms.
Courtois dived the best manner however Moreno’s shot was well-placed into the nook.
Topics talked about on this article
(This story has not been edited by Newslivenation workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)