Super Eagles star Samuel Chukwueze was not among the goals but the Yellow Submarines did enough to earn a hard fought 2-2 draw against Real Madrid in La Liga's last match on Sunday night.
An exciting night of goals and goals ended with no victor no vanquished as a Gareth Bale double secured a draw for Los Blancos at the Estadio De La Ceramics.
Zidane still had no Eden Hazard to call on but there was three changes for the visitors with Luka Modric, returning from the opening day red card, having to make do with a place on the bench. Ferland Mendy, Lucas Vazquez and Luka Jovic all move into the starting XI.
After doing most of the early running Zidane's men fell behind to a goal that had much to do with Sergio Ramos' error than Villarreal excellence.
Only 12 minutes in and Gerard Moreno got the opener. A swift counter from the hosts created space for the striker to feed Ekambi into the box. The latter's shot was blocked but the ball fell kindly back to his team-mate who squeaked it under the Courtois. It was certainly not the start Zidane must have wished for.
https://www.twitter.com/Eng_Villarreal/status/1168240339930533888
The chance for that goal – a beautiful gift – came from a major Ramos error in his own half.
Bale was yet again at his brilliant best and should have equalized for Los Blancos almost immediately but his wickedly whipped free-kick blew over the bar by the whiskers.
Zidane's men smelled blood and continued to pile the pressure on.
Ten minutes before the break and Real fans thought they had equalized. A breathtaking counter move from Madrid, with over half-a-dozen quick passes unlocked the Villarreal defence, but Vazquez could only hit the side netting with his fierce shot.
With halftime fast approaching, an open, fun game didn't show any signs of letting up as Villarreal missed a great chance to increase their lead. A sweetly-played counter put Ekambi into space and he whistled a shot in that's no trouble in the end – but with Moreno to his side, he arguably should have teed up his partner for the finish instead.
Le Merengues then went straight up to punish that miscue. Summer outcast Gareth Bale was well-placed to apply a simple tap-in finish to a neatly executed one-two on the right between Carvajal and Jovic. Real Madrid were deservedly back on level terms with a goal that was just the tonic the visitors needed before the break.
https://www.twitter.com/realmadriden/status/1168249759045509120
Ten minutes after the restart and Villarreal made their first change of the game, replacing Samuel Chukwueze with Javi Ontiveros. The Nigeria international had been subdued in the first 45 minutes and not much had changed since the restart.
Shortly after, the visitors had the ball in the back of the net. Madrid picked up yet another corner which created confusion in the Yellow Submarine box before Benzema managed to poke the ball home but the flag of the linesman immediately cut short his celebration for offside. VAR was consulted but the original decision was upheld and the scores remained level.
https://www.twitter.com/Eng_Villarreal/status/1168256122119229446
With Chukwueze out, Villarreal's substitutes Ontiveros and Zambo Anguissa began to combine rather dangerously to give the hosts a bit of extra juice all of a sudden.
With a quarter of an hour left of play, Moi Gomez gave the hosts the lead back! Another sub Carlos Bacca crashed a shot in that is deflected out to Ontiveros who, rather than shoot himself, flicked it across for the winger to tap in. Madrid were stung.
But with Gareth Bale still on the pitch, the game was far from over.
And with minutes left on the clock the Welshman claimed his and Madrid's second of the night.
The former Spurs forward raced onto a crossfield ball from Modric on the right of the box, stepped back inside upon himself and buried the ball in the back of the net with a low, powerful finish. It was a rocket of an equaliser.
The game finally finished all square as Gareth Bale earned Real Madrid a well-earned point against a spirited Villarreal with two goals – and then got himself sent off for good measure too.
Madrid will next host Levante at Santiago Bernabeu while Villarreal travel to Leganes.
nice one Samuel chukwueze