Real Madrid suffered a setback in their quest for the LaLiga title as they lost 3-2 at home to Villarreal on Saturday, despite taking the lead twice. Samu Chukwueze was the hero for the visitors, scoring two goals to secure the win. The defeat leaves Real Madrid on 59 points in second place, with their arch-rivals Barcelona potentially able to extend their lead to 15 points at the top of the table if they win against Girona on Monday. This loss comes just days after Real Madrid’s impressive 4-0 victory over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
Real Madrid will face Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday, despite suffering a 3-2 defeat to Villarreal in LaLiga. Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti, admitted that his team’s performance was not up to par and that they could have defended better. However, he remains confident ahead of the midweek European clash, saying that Wednesday’s game is a different story and that his team will be fully motivated. Real Madrid took an early lead through an own goal, but Villarreal equalised before half-time with a goal from Samu Chukwueze.
Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr scored his ninth league goal of the season to restore the team’s lead two minutes into the second half against Villarreal. However, Quique Setien’s side fought back to equalise again in the 71st minute through Jose Luis Morales, with VAR overturning an initial offside decision. Samu Chukwueze then scored his second of the game with a stunning strike from the edge of the box, securing a 3-2 victory for Villarreal and silencing the home fans at the Santiago Bernabeu. The defeat leaves Real Madrid’s title hopes in doubt and adds pressure ahead of their upcoming Champions League clash against Chelsea.
Samu Chukwueze, who scored a brace to secure Villarreal’s 3-2 win over Real Madrid, described his second goal as a “crazy goal” and expressed his delight in helping his team secure a crucial victory. The win sees Villarreal move up to fifth place in the league standings and boosts their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season. Chukwueze added that he aims to continue improving and taking advantage of his current form. Villarreal will face relegation-threatened Valladolid in their next league match on Saturday.