Early Soldado goal sinks Real Madrid at the Madrigal

Soldado rocks Madrid

Villarreal CF, who have only lost once at the Madrigal this season, tore into Real Madrid CF in the opening minutes, with leading scorer Cedric Bakambu causing them all kinds of problems.

He set up Jonathan dos Santos for the Mexican to fire against the post, and then after Luka Modric had been caught in possession, he laid on the opening goal for Soldado in the eighth minute. The former Madrid player beat Keylor Navas for his third in LaLiga this season.

#VILvRMA | 1-0 | @R9Soldado celebra su tercer gol en este curso. Todos ellos han sido dentro del área. #LaLigaStats pic.twitter.com/EYdBEYtzfp

— LaLiga (@LaLiga) December 13, 2015

Bakambu’s pace

Rafa Benitez’s side struggled to work their way back into the game though they saw more of the ball with Modric taking charge in midfield.

As they pushed forward though, they were vulnerable to Villarreal’s pace on the counter-attack and Bakambu unsettled the returning Sergio Ramos and Pepe with his direct running.

Madrid lay siege

Madrid started the second half much better. Karim Benzema shot just wide of the far post, and then Gareth Bale crossed low into the area and the France striker somehow put the ball over the bar from close range.

Bale forced a save from Alphonse Areola in the 55th minute as Villarreal desperately hung on under a sustained assault.

Villarreal hang on

Benitez freshened up his side with Mateo Kovacic, Isco and Jese as he looked for an equaliser, and in the 80th minute Colombia’s James Rodriguez flashed a shot wide after a mazy run.

Madrid’s attacks grew ever more desperate but Villarreal stood firm to deny them the chance to make the most of FC Barcelona’s draw against RC Deportivo on Saturday.

Extraordinary victory by the team tonight! Well done boys!!! #CVFEnglish Villarreal 1-0 Real Madrid. #LigaBBVA @LaLiga

— Villarreal CF (@VillarrealCF) December 13, 2015