Madrid, April 9 (BNA): Samu Chukwueze scored twice to deal yet another blow to Real Madrid’s title hopes as they lost 3-2 to Villarreal at home in LaLiga on Saturday, despite having led twice.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side were fired up as they crushed rivals Barcelona 4-0 at the Camp Nou in the Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday.
However, they were unable to build on that momentum as they fell to a defeat that left them 59 points in second place and opened the door for Barcelona to move 15 points clear at the top if they beat Girona on Monday, according to Reuters.
Real hosts Chelsea on Wednesday in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
Real Madrid took the lead after 15 minutes when Marco Asensio’s cross was deflected off Villarreal’s Pau Torres and scored into his own net.
Villarreal found the equalizer in the 39th minute through Chukwueze, who penetrated inside from the middle of the penalty area and beat Nacho before shooting close to Thibaut Courtois.
Vinicius Junior restored Real Madrid’s lead two minutes into the second half with a simple finish in front of a Villarreal goal for his ninth league goal of the season.
Quique Setién’s side equalized again in the 71st minute when Real Madrid’s defense failed to clear the ball, allowing Jose Luis Morales to fire home from close range, with the initial offside decision overturned by the video assistant referee.
Chukwueze scored his second ten minutes from the end of normal time with a stunning shot from the edge of the penalty area into the top left corner to win the game for Villarreal and silence the home crowd at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Villarreal, who rose to fifth place in the Champions League qualification battle, will host Valladolid, which is threatened with relegation, next Saturday.
WWA