Real Madrid

There's no shame in losing away to Villarreal, but the manner of the defeat will have Real Madrid fans and coaches concerned.

[Valencia](/football/team?id=94) (Wednesday, Jan. [Celta Vigo](/football/team?id=85) (Jan. And with [England](/football/team?id=448)'s [Jude Bellingham](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/291281/Jude-Bellingham) being targeted for next summer and [Brazil](/football/team?id=205)'s Endrick [Felipe](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/196843/Felipe) due in 2024, it's a trend that's set to continue. 11) and, if they win that, they'd have the final against Barcelona or [Real Betis](/football/team?id=244) on Sunday, Jan. Gerard Moreno (Villarreal): His last 2 goals with Villarreal were via penalty kick. [Saudi Arabia](/football/team?id=655) next week for the Spanish Supercopa, and they'll be back at La Ceramica in 10 days' time in the Copa del Rey round of 16. [Best/worst performers](#bestworst) (It was the club's longest active winless run vs a single opponent in LaLiga.) [Highlights and notable moments](#highlights) [Report: Villarreal 2-1 Real Madrid](/football/report?gameId=643930) [Karim Benzema](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/46858/Karim-Benzema) converted his spot kick after [Juan Foyth](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/242710/Juan-Foyth) handled inside the area before [David Alaba](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/118444/David-Alaba) was also penalised, giving Moreno the chance to put the home side back in front. [LaLiga table](https://www.espn.com/soccer/table/_/league/esp.1)

Gerard Moreno's penalty condemned Los Blancos to a second league defeat of the season as coach Quique Setien's side did former employer Barcelona a favour.

Benzema spurned a glorious chance to level when Foyth blocked his goal-bound effort on the line but the Frenchman made the most of his penalty reprieve after the defender's handball in the build-up was punished by a VAR review. Villarreal went straight up the other end and won a penalty of its own moments later, though, Foyth seeing his pass handled by Alaba, and Moreno made no mistake. Villarreal created a host of promising openings during an entertaining first half but had to wait until just after the break to make the breakthrough thanks to Yeremy Pino.

Villarreal have beaten Real Madrid 2-1 in a vibrant La Liga match before Carlo Ancelotti's side head to Saudi Arabia to play in the Spanish Super Cup.

Cancel anytime.

Summary of the headlineReal Madrid scored from one penalty before conceding from another as they dropped points in the La Liga title race against a buoyant ...

Ferland Mendy gave the ball away with a lazy pass, and Gerard Moreno fed Yeremi Pino, who turned home past Courtois - via a deflection from the struggling Mendy. Gerard Moreno dutifully tucked away the ensuing penalty, sending the home side to a deserved three points. The referee swiftly, and somewhat harshly, pointed to the spot, with Villarreal's Gerard Moreno converting the ensuing penalty to give his side a 2-1 lead - one they wouldn't relinquish.

Both teams were given penalties following handball decisions, whilst VAR awarded after checks. Juan Foyth was penalised for Villarreal, whilst David Alaba was ...

I am happy for the three points, but beating a team like Real Madrid is always important to know what level you are playing at.” “I do not think either of the two penalties should have been given. I think they were dubious penalties, but the referee ultimately decides.

Real Madrid face Valencia in the semi-finals of the tournament being played in Riyadh (Wednesday 8 pm CET).

[European Super Cup](https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2022/08/15/clubs-fifth-uefa-super-cup-crown) this season, have won the Spanish Super Cup 12 times. [Spanish Super Champions](https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2022/01/16/0-2-spanish-super-cup-champions) title in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), which we won last season at the same venue. Real Madrid will get the competition underway on Wednesday against Valencia (8 pm CET).

Alaba spoke on his former Bayern Munich teammate Robert Lewandowski, who has hit the ground running at Barcelona since joining from the German champions last ...

Alaba will look to add another honour to his Real Madrid catalogue when the squad take part in the Supercopa next week. Alaba is hopeful that he will renew, and believes that he is still a crucial part of the squad. He still has plenty of gas left in the tank, no doubt. He has a prominent role in the team, both on and off the field. He and his family love to get to know this new culture, the language. He has shown it as soon as he arrived in La Liga.

Real Madrid Castilla began 2023 in style with a superb comeback victory. The academy side defeated Algeciras at the Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium to extend ...

But the Whites refused to give up and were rewarded five minutes later, as Álvaro Martín scored from inside the six-yard box, latching on to Aranda’s rebound. Raúl’s men took the game to Algeciras and got their reward with 60 minutes on the clock. The visitors took the lead in the 3rd minute, but Arribas equalised with a free-kick on the hour mark.

The Frenchman is struggling at Real Madrid, meaning the Bayern left-back has moved up the to-do list at the Bernabéu.

Hopefully for Madrid, the player has not renewed his deal and the German club become forced to negotiate instead of allowing him to go on a free, just as happened with Toni Kroos back in 2014. The French defender started the season with doubts circling overhead, knowing that his future at the 13-time European Champions was not 100% secure: after the signing of Rüdiger, the club decided they would listen to offers for Mendy and Ancelotti would move Alaba to a permanent role at left-back. No offers arrived for Mendy during the summer (something that was always seen as unlikely given his huge price tag when he arrived at Madrid: €48M), so the left-back stayed put and the squad now suffers from something of an asymmetry in his position: there is no direct substitute, only temporary cover. As reported before by AS, the chosen player is Alphonso Davies, the Canadian defender currently at Bayern Munich, whose contract finishes in 2025 and who Madrid will try to sign one year earlier. With the statistics in hand, Mendy’s game was quiet if not interesting: he completed 23/26 passes (88%), won 2/4 duels, recovered the ball 4 times and lost the ball another 4. The full-back gifted Villarreal’s opener and Ancelotti hooked him off after an hour, deciding to bring on Lucas Vázquez and switching Alaba out onto the left.