Match ends, Real Madrid 4, Villarreal 2.
Real MadridReal Madrid4VillarrealVillarreal2
Gareth Bale scored the opening goal as Real Madrid beat Villarreal to go top of La Liga.
The Welshman chipped home after seven minutes and assisted Karim Benzema's close-range second.
Mario Gaspar pulled one back with a fierce first-time drive but Jese put Real Madrid in control with a delicate finish.
Giovani Dos Santos scored a brilliant free-kick for the visitors but Benzema sealed it from 18 yards.
Real Madrid, who were without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, are now unbeaten in 23 games in all competitions.
And they lead the Spanish league on goal difference after rivals Atletico Madrid lost 2-0 to Almeria. Barcelona, who visit Sevilla on Sunday, could overtake both sides on goal difference with a victory.
Ronaldo's replacement in the team, Bale, took only seven minutes to make his mark when he took the ball off dawdling defender Jose Antonio Dorado to charge into the box and lift the ball over keeper Sergio Asenjo.
He then put in a cross for Benzema, which the France international tucked home at the near post.
Right-back Mario fired past Diego Lopez late in the first half to give the Yellow Submarine hope.
Real re-established their two-goal lead when Angel Di Maria played in 20-year-old Jese, who touched the ball past Asenjo to score for the fourth game in a row.
Giovani curled home a fantastic free-kick from 25 yards out but Benzema clinched the victory from the edge of the box after Jese had laid the ball off to him.
Line-ups
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-3
- 25López
- 15Carvajal
- 12MarceloSubstituted forda Silva Coentrãoat 18'minutesSubstituted forArbeloaat 45'minutes
- 24Illarramendi
- 3Pepe
- 4Ramos
- 19Modric
- 22Di MaríaSubstituted forAlonsoat 68'minutes
- 9Benzema
- 11Bale
- 20Rodríguez Ruiz
Substitutes
- 1Casillas
- 2Varane
- 5da Silva Coentrão
- 14Alonso
- 17Arbeloa
- 21Morata
- 23Isco
Villarreal
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Asenjo
- 2Perez MartinezBooked at 59mins
- 18Costa JordáBooked at 54mins
- 28Ramos GómezSubstituted forTrigueros Muñozat 58'minutes
- 5Musacchio
- 16Dorado Ramírez
- 17Aquino
- 21Bruno
- 9G dos Santos
- 24PereiraSubstituted forPerbetat 68'minutes
- 27Gómez BardonadoSubstituted forRomán Olléat 63'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Jokic
- 6Pantic
- 7Perbet
- 12Román Ollé
- 14Trigueros Muñoz
- 20Gabriel
- 35Fernández Abarisketa
- Referee:
- José Luis González González
- Attendance:
- 75,624
Match Stats
Home TeamReal MadridAway TeamVillarreal
- Possession
- Home62%
- Away38%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away3
- Corners
- Home6
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 4, Villarreal 2.
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Corner, Villarreal. Conceded by Álvaro Arbeloa.
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Attempt blocked. Joan Román (Villarreal) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Giovani dos Santos.
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Foul by Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid).
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Joan Román (Villarreal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid).
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Joan Román (Villarreal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Joan Román.
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Asier Illarramendi (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Dangerous play by Joan Román (Villarreal).
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Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Manu Trigueros (Villarreal).
Goal!
Goal! Real Madrid 4, Villarreal 2. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jesé following a fast break.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Manu Trigueros (Villarreal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Foul by Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid).
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Jérémy Perbet (Villarreal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt missed. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Xabi Alonso.
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Foul by Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid).
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Mateo Musacchio (Villarreal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
