Football

Real slip up

Real Madrid 1 Villarreal 1: Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale flop on return as Los Blancos fail to break La Liga record

Sergio Ramos goes from hero to zero as Zinedine Zidane's side slip to disappointing draw at the Bernabeu

Matt Heath-Smith

Published: 21:05, 21 Sep 2016
Updated: 3:42, 22 Sep 2016

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REAL MADRID failed to make La Liga history as they slipped to a disappointing home draw with Villarreal.

Zinedine Zidane's side were chasing a record-breaking SEVENTEENTH straight league win to topple Pep Guardiola's 2011 Barcelona side.

Manu Trigueros appeals for penalty after Sergio Ramos' handball — Manu Trigueros appeals for penalty after Sergio Ramos' handballCredit: Getty Images

Bruno Soriano watches his sensational Panenka float past helpless Kiko Casilla — Bruno Soriano watches his sensational Panenka float past helpless Kiko CasillaCredit: Getty Images

And the hosts welcomed back Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale after the superstar strike pair were ruled out of last weekend’s win over Espanyol.

But Pepe, Luka Modric and Casemiro were all unavailable — with Mateo Kovacic and Raphael Varane handed starts.

Zidane stunned fans with the shock decision to REST Modric, just six games into the season.

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Sergio Ramos towered over Mario Gaspar at the far post to head Madrid's equaliser — Sergio Ramos towered over Mario Gaspar at the far post to head Madrid's equaliserCredit: Getty Images

Ramos redeemed himself with fine header to bring Real Madrid level — Ramos redeemed himself with fine header to bring Real Madrid levelCredit: AP:Associated Press

And his side clearly missed the Croatian in midfield as they failed to get going in a disjointed first-half performance.

Madrid failed to get a single shot on target as Villarreal looked a real threat on the break.

And the visitors had already missed two gilt-edged chances by the time they took a shock lead just before the break.

Sergio Ramos deliberately blocked Manu Trigueros’s shot with his hand to give Bruno Soriano the chance from the spot.

And the Villarreal captain - who had already missed a pen this season - calmly guided a sensational Panenka past Kiko Casilla.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema suffered frustrating evening in front of goal — Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema suffered frustrating evening in front of goalCredit: Getty Images

Gareth Bale returned for Real Madrid but was ineffective before being subbed in second half — Gareth Bale returned for Real Madrid but was ineffective before being subbed in second halfCredit: AP:Associated Press

Ramos was only booked - insisting for the second game in a row that the ball had hit his face - as Villarreal called for a red.

And they were left furious when the Madrid skipper netted a rapid equaliser just two minutes after the break.

Ramos towered over Mario Gaspar at the far post to head in James Rodriguez's right-wing cross to go from zero to hero at the Bernabeu.

Madrid peppered the goal in search for a winner but they soon ran out of ideas against a sturdy Villarreal backline.

Ronaldo cut an increasingly frustrated figure and was booked for a late lunge on Bruno as ineffective Bale and Karim Benzema were hauled off.

Replacements Lucas Vazquez and Alvaro Morata injected a cutting edge as Real rallied late on.

But they couldn't find a winner as Zidane's incredible run came to an end.

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