Real Madrid’s 100% start to the La Liga seasoncame to an end as they drew 1-1 at home to
Villarreal, halting their joint-record run of 16
straight league wins.
Captain Bruno Soriano gave Villarreal the lead on
the stroke of half-time with a boldly chipped
penalty after Sergio Ramos had handled in the
area, although the Real captain made amends by
heading in the equaliser in the 48th minute.
Real remain top of La Liga on 13 points but
failed to seal a new record of consecutive wins, having equalled the 16 straight victories set by
Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in 2010/11 on Sunday.
Cristiano Ronaldo returned to action after
missing the 2-0 win at Espanyol and spurned two
early chances, firing over the bar and heading at
goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo, who had to punch
away a close range header from Karim Benzema.
Former Real midfielder Denis Cheryshev forced
Kiko Casilla into a save down the other end,
while Nicola Sansone, who had scored from the
halfway line against Real Sociedad on Sunday,
sent a bicycle kick over the bar.
Real suffered a setback when Marcelo was
forced off injured shortly before half-time but
that was not the end of their woes. Villarreal
found their way through when Ramos gave away
a penalty by halting a Manu Trigueros shot with
his hand, and tried to hide his guilt by burying
his face in his hands.
Ramos had got away with a similar offence at
Espanyol but referee Jose Luis González
González showed no mercy, and Soriano, who
had missed from the spot against Málaga earlier
in the season, opened the scoring with an
audacious chip.
The Spain captain, however, redeemed himself
by heading in Toni Kroos’ corner early in the
second half. From then on Real dominated
proceedings as they searched for a winner.
Gareth Bale flashed a shot wide from a tight
angle, Ronaldo narrowly failed to connect with a
cross at the far post and later on shot straight at
Asenjo, who had denied substitute Álvaro Morata
from close range.
Ramos also tried to win a penalty late on
following a challenge from Roberto Soriano, but
failed to convince referee González. Reposted from the guardian
Espanyol but referee Jose Luis González
González showed no mercy, and Soriano, who
had missed from the spot against Málaga earlier
in the season, opened the scoring with an
audacious chip.
The Spain captain, however, redeemed himself
by heading in Toni Kroos’ corner early in the
second half. From then on Real dominated
proceedings as they searched for a winner.
Gareth Bale flashed a shot wide from a tight
angle, Ronaldo narrowly failed to connect with a
cross at the far post and later on shot straight at
Asenjo, who had denied substitute Álvaro Morata
from close range.
Ramos also tried to win a penalty late on
following a challenge from Roberto Soriano, but
failed to convince referee González. Reposted from the guardian
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