Sports

Madrid stage Villarreal fightback, Messi nets winner

Madrid stage Villarreal fightback, Messi nets winner

TIL Desk Sports/ Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo hauled Real Madrid back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Villarreal and regain top spot in La Liga from Barcelona. Earlier, Barca had momentarily usurped Real thanks to Lionel Messi’s winner four minutes from time in a 2-1 victory at Atletico Madrid. Real lead Barca by a point, but also have a game in hand on their title rivals.

“We showed character to turn the game around,” said Real boss Zinedine Zidane. “With everything that happened today it was vitally important to get the three points.” Bale was recalled to the starting line-up for the first time in three months after a long-term injury layoff and Real’s shock 2-1 defeat to Valencia in midweek.

And the European champions looked set for a second straight defeat as Villarreal struck twice early in the second half. Firstly, Manu Trigueros volleyed home Samu Castillejo’s knockdown before Cedric Bakambu burst onto Bruno Soriano’s through ball to slot past Keylor Navas. Ronaldo almost replied immediately, but Madrid’s luck looked out when his sweetly struck volley came back off the post.

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