Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti made wholesale changes to his side that travelled to the Estadio La Ceramica on Sunday, and it reflected on the scoreline as both teams played out a 4-4 draw.
Villarreal striker Alexander Sørloth scored four times as the hosts came from 4-1 down to draw 4-4. Despite the result, the Yellow Submarines will be unable to feature in European competition next season.
Los Blancos, on the other hand, are 14 points clear at the La Liga summit, but the champions, who thrashed Alaves 5-0 in their last fixture, couldn’t get the better of a Villarreal team that had four wins in the last five.
Despite the impressive start by the home side who were hoping to catch up with Real Betis who led with four points with two games remaining. However, their attacking intent was compromised by in-form Arda Guler who made it four goals in his last five matches after turning home Brahim Diaz’s pass.
Los Blancos continued to dominate even with a second string side, and it wasn’t long before veteran forward Joselu, took his league tally into double figures by heading home an inch-perfect Lucas Vázquez cross.
However, there was a moment of loss of concentration from the defense as Dani Ceballos loss the possession to Yerson Mosquera, who fed Sørloth for his first of the game and also pull one back for the hosts.
Moments later, Real Madrid regained their two-goal advantage as Vázquez made it three before Güler secured his double and ended the half with a 4-1 lead to Real Madrid.
However, in the second half, Real Madrid conceded three goals in fifteen minutes in a disappointing second half performance as Alexander Sorloth closed in and eventually overtook Jude Bellingham and Artem Dovbyk in the Pichichi race with two and four goals respectively.