Real Madrid 2 Villarreal 1 La Liga Highlights: Real fights back but loses title to Atletico in a nail-biting finish

La Liga 2020-21 match blog: Read updates and commentary from the clash between Real Madrid and Villarreal at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on Saturday

Updated : May 23, 2021 00:04 IST

Modric scored the winner for Real but lost out on the title to Atletico after a thriller of a last day in the La Liga.
Modric scored the winner for Real but lost out on the title to Atletico after a thriller of a last day in the La Liga.
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Modric scored the winner for Real but lost out on the title to Atletico after a thriller of a last day in the La Liga.

Read Sportstar's live match blog of Real Madrid's final La Liga encounter of the season against Villarreal at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.

THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY!! THANKS FOR TUNING IN!! GOODNIGHT!!

MATCH REPORT: Real Madrid beat Villarreal but end season second

Real Madrid's comeback means little in the grand aspect of things as Atletico kept its nerve till the end and won against Valladolid. Diego Simeone wins his second title with Atletico Madrid.

FULL TIME!!!! Heartbreak for Real Madrid. Atletico finishes with a win and clinches its 11th La Liga title. Diego Simeone's men are champions of Spain.

90+2 GOOOOOAAALLLLL!!!! (Real Madrid 2 Villarreal 1) Modric scores but Madrid still needs a favour from Valladolid.

FOUR ADDED MINUTES!!!

87' GOOOAAALLLL!!! MADRID EQUALISE!! ITS BENZEMA!!! (Real Madrid 1 Villarreal 1) Benzema finesses it beautifully to the top corner after being assisted by Rodrygo. A glimmer of hope for Madrid?

86' FOUL- Raba is caught by Valverde. Free kick to Villarreal.

83' SHOT!!! Modric blasts one from long distance but his shot echoes his team's performance today. Its wide and nothing comes of it.

81' CHANGES- Paco Alcacer and Dani Raba  comes on for Yeremi Pino and Gerard Moreno.

78' Real Madrid showing plenty of urgency and is extensively pressing Villarreal but might be too little too late.

72' WIDE!!! Marcelo whips in a dangerous cross, which finds Mariano at the near-post but he fails to connect with it. Villarreal clears its lines as far as Benzema , whose left-footed slice is wide of the target.

68' CHANGES- Marcelo, Mariano and Nacho comes on for Miguel Gutierrez, Casemiro and Alvaro Odriozola.

66' WHAT A CHANCE!!! Rodrygo charges down Rulli's clearance and hands Benzema an open goal. But the Frenchman took too much time to control the ball and ultimately hits the side-netting.

66' CHANGES- Ruben Pena and Francis Coquelin comes on for Etienne Capoue and Carlos Bacca

60' Casemiro causing problems for Villarreal. He is constantly finding space around Villarreal's box and delivering some dangerous balls inside.

56' CHANGE- Rodrygo comes on for Vinicius Junior.

55' BENZEMA HEADS THE BALL HOME BUT VAR RULES ITS OUT FOR OFFSIDE!!! Its is a close shave for Villarreal.

54' SHOT!!! Modric displaying his genius yet again with a beautiful threaded pass to Vinicius. But the angle proved a bit too acute for the Brazilian as he fluffed his shot in the end.

51' Valverde with a searching ball inside Villarreal's goal but Emery's defence coped with it as the ball goes out for a corner.

49' Vinicius dances through Villarreal's defence from the left flank and finishes his move with a cheeky shot but Rulli was aware and collected the ball safely.

46' Madrid on the go straight away in the second half. Asensio tries to curl a shot in from the right flank but his shot is blocked.

THE SECOND HALF IS UNDERWAY!!!

Things are not going well for Real Madrid as it is lagging behind by a goal courtesy of Yeremi Pino's goal in the first-half.

In the other title-deciding match Atletico Madrid is losing to Valladolid by a goal as well. So both title contenders having a poor game so far.

If things stay like this, Atletico will lift its first La Liga title in seven years but a lot of time left for things to change.

45' HALF-TIME!!!! (No time added on)

44' SHOT!!! Karim Benzema tried to work Rulli by blasting a shot from the edge of the box but the shot was horribly misguided as it soared above the goal.

39' Villarreal posing all kinds of questions to Madrid's defence as the Los Blancos are finding it difficult to keep the visiting team at bay.

35' THAT WAS CLOSE!!! Luka Modric showing brilliant feet as he wriggled into Villarreal's box but his shot at the end soars over the crossbar.

32' CHANCE!!! Its danger man Bacca again after being threaded a beautiful ball by Pedraza. His first touch let him down and Courtois collects.

30' Some good play there by Real Madrid in front of Villarreal's box. Crisp passing by Zidane's men, which led to a cross by Marcelo in the box but Rulli collects it.

20' GOOOAAALLLLL!!!! Villarreal strikes first blood. Its  Yeremi Pino. Moreno gets an assist. (Real 0 Villarreal 1). Madrid needs two goals to salvage any hope for the title.

7' Villarreal with a great chance as Bacca speared forward at Courtois' goal but no harm comes of it as Madrid clear the ball with relative ease.

1' KICK-OFF!!!

09:30 IST- HERE WE GO!! FINAL GAME OF THE SEASON!! CHANCE FOR MADRID TO WIN THE TITLE!!

09:15 IST- 15 MINUTES TO GO!!!

 

08:45 IST- The stage is set!!

 

08:30 IST- LINEUPS ARE OUT!!!

Real Madrid: Courtois, Odriozola, Varane, Militao, Miguel, Casemiro, Modric, Valverde, Asensio, Vinicius, Benzema (C)

Coach: Zinedine Zidane

Villarreal: Rulli, Gaspar (C), Albiol, Pau, Parejo, Gerard, Bacca, Trigueros, Pedraza, Capoue, Yeremy

Coach: Unai Emery

INJURY UPDATES: Injured Hazard out of Real Madrid's La Liga finale; Ramos returns

Preview

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane would not be drawn on his future ahead of the side's final La Liga game of the season against Villarreal on Saturday.

If Real wins and city rival Atletico fails to emerge victorious away to Valladolid, then Zidane's side will be crowned champion.

The Frenchman, whose future has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks in what could be a trophyless season, batted away questions if he will remain at the helm, insisting his only focus was on toppling visitor Villarreal.

READ| Atletico Madrid favourite to lift La Liga crown, feel former players

"It's not important if I am here or someone else is, the important thing is the team and what we want to achieve," he told a news conference.

"For us the only thing on our minds is the game. We play tomorrow and now isn't the time to talk about it (his future). All my energy is focused on tomorrow.

"It's been a tough campaign but we are excited by the chance of being able to win La Liga."

READ| La Liga: Madrid police deployed to prevent Atletico, Real title celebrations

There was good news as Zidane confirmed the return of club captain Sergio Ramos for the game against Unai Emery's side. However, Eden Hazard's name was on the growing absentee list, which already features Dani Carvajal, Toni Kroos, Lucas Vazquez and Ferland Mendy.

"Hazard's got something. It's small, but we don't want to risk anything. He wasn't in training because he's got an issue and tomorrow he won't be available," Zidane said.

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