Villarreal 2-2 Real Madrid: Santi Cazorla double pegs back Los Blancos
The former Arsenal playmaker struck twice in an impressive display
Santi Cazorla’s double bookended Villarreal’s draw with Real Madrid on Thursday, that leaves the European champions seven points behind leaders Barcelona.
With this match postponed because of Real Madrid’s December Club World Cup appearance, Madrid kicked off La Liga’s 2019 action with a disappointing display.
Cazorla opened the scoring with a cute curler before Karim Benzema headed Madrid level in the opening stages.
Raphael Varane headed home another for Madrid to send them ahead but, with Gareth Bale going off injured at the break, they could not add to their lead.
Instead Cazorla popped up again to head home the equaliser in the 82nd minute.
“We could not counter and cause them problems in the second half, we were lacking clarity in our breakaways and Gareth is a specialist at that,” said Madrid coach Solari.
“We have to keep fighting and we will. We have another game in three days time.”
