Chukwueze strikes twice as Villarreal stun Madrid
Real Madrid suffered a 3-2 defeat by Villarreal in La Liga in a thrilling clash ahead of their Champions League showdown against Chelsea next week.
The champions remain 12 points behind leaders Barcelona, who face Girona on Monday, with Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze scoring twice in a sensational individual display. Pau Torres's own goal sent Madrid in front but Chukwueze levelled before the break.
Vinicius Junior netted a superb solo goal before Jose Luis Morales equalised again and Chukwueze curled home a superb winner, which reduced Madrid's hopes of retaining the title to virtually nothing.
"The league is complicated, that's obvious, but we're alive in two other competitions that we will try to win," said Madrid defender Lucas Vazquez.
Carlo Ancelotti made six changes from the 4-0 Clasico thrashing of Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final midweek, with Chelsea's visit on Wednesday in mind. However the Italian coach maintained his attacking trio of Karim Benzema, Rodrygo and Vinicius, looking to put the game to bed early.
Real Madrid took the lead in the 16th minute after an electric break, with Marco Asensio driving the team forward and Vinicius' low cross ricocheting off Torres into his own net.
Villarreal's veteran goalkeeper Pepe Reina made two fine saves to deny Benzema and Rodrygo as Madrid tried to stretch their advantage, while Madrid stopper Thibaut Courtois twice denied Alex Baena from distance.
The visitors levelled late in the first half when Chukwueze's magical footwork left defender Nacho Fernandez for dead, and the Nigerian finished clinically past Courtois.