Real Madrid climbed to the top of the LaLiga standings after thrashing Villarreal 4-1 on Sunday evening.
LaLiga
Teams: Real Madrid 4-1 Villarreal
Date: 17 December 2023
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
Madrid were unchanged following their draw against Real Betis, as Jude Bellingham supported Rodrygo and Brahim Diaz, in the absence of Vinicius Junior, upfront.
Los Blancos were a threat in the early stages as Diaz came close to giving them the lead on 15 minutes with a volleyed strike at the near post after chest-trapping a pass from Toni Kroos, kept out at the near post by alert goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen.
Madrid's pressure finally paid off ten minutes later after Bellingham broke the deadlock with a downward header at the back post after a cross by Luka Modric.
Carlo Ancelotti's charges were full of confidence going forward and Rodrygo doubled their lead eight minutes before the interval with a strike towards the bottom corner after a through ball by Lucas Vazquez, with the goal awarded by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) after initially being incorrectly ruled out for offside.
Los Blancos controlled the game to head to the interval with a two-goal cushion and had bright start in the second stanza.
However, Villarreal pulled a goal back ten minutes into the second stanza from a counter-attack after José Morales slotted a shot in between the legs of goalkeeper Andriy Lunin from a through ball by Ramón Terrats.
Los Blancos were mesmerizing going forward, however, as Diaz restored their two-goal lead on 64 minutes with an amazing solo effort, after he raced through almost from the half-way line, beat a couple of defender and a curled a low shot past Jorgensen.
Madrid were buzzing as Modric quickly killed off the game as he made it 4-1 four minutes with a clinical finish after he was played through on goal by Rodrygo following a successful high press.
Ancelotti made a double change with 12 minutes to go, as Bellingham and Kroos were rested in favour of Dani Ceballos and Aurelien Tchouameni, who both offered fresh legs.
Madrid saw out the game with relative ease, as they topped the table by one point over second-placed Girona, who face Deportivo Alaves at home on Monday evening.
Los Blancos also steered seven points clear of third-placed rivals Barcelona.
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