La Liga: Villarreal compound Real Madrid’s woes with late win

Real Madrid’s struggles in La Liga continues after a 1-0 defeat by Villarreal at Santiago Bernabeu. Pablo Fornals scored a clever goal late on to hand Villarreal a famous win at the Bernabeu.

Los Blancos came into the game looking to bounce back from their disappointing draw with Celta Vigo last time out.

However, against a Villarreal side which the champions have only beaten twice in their last five meetings, it was always going to be a difficult match.

The defending champions dominated the game, coming close to a breakthrough via talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Marcelo, but both missed glaring chances in a goalless first half.

After the break, Zinedine Zidane’s side were denied two penalty claims, as their frustrations grew in a very dire second half performance.

With three minutes left on the clock, Fornals snatched all three points for the visitors, following a brilliant counter attack, and an excellent chip over Keylor Navas, who initially saved an Enes Unal shot before Fornals chip from 20yards out left him hapless.

Real have now won just one of their last five matches, and could find themselves 19points adrift of bitter rivals, Barcelona, who take on Real Sociedad on Sunday.

For Villarreal, a memorable victory sees them move just a point behind their host, whose Champions League position looks increasingly under threat from the Yellow Submarine.