After a stellar performance against Mallorca (6-1) in midweek, Real Madrid showed a completely different face tonight against Europa League champions Villareal. At Santiago Bernabeu, Carlo Ancelotti is surely disappointed – final score 0-0.Both teams remain unbeaten in the ongoing La Liga campaign but Real Madrid are those who see this as a missed opportunity. Also, this was the first time Ancelotti and Unai Emery saw a draw in the clash of their teams.Real were the ones to fear for their goal first. In the 13th minute, Arnaut Danjuma fashioned a shot from the edge of the box but Thibaut Courtois made a stunning save to stop the effort from flying into the bottom right corner.100 – Thibaut Courtois 🇧🇪 is one of only five goalkeepers to keep 100+ clean sheets in @LaLigaEN in the 21st century, with only Jan Oblak 🇸🇮 (182) achieving his 100th clean sheet in fewer games than him (100 in 217) since then. Guardian. pic.twitter.com/uG9VtmMg5d— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 25, 2021 Los Blancos main weapons Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior struggled to find their feet. The Mallorca victory hero Marco Asensio also. Therefore, chances for Real came from elsewhere. Defender Eder Militao had a couple of header attempts but none were accurate and dangerous enough.Danjuma tried again in the 38th minute but his shot flew just wide of the left post.Militao was at it again in the second half – Asensio sent a free kick cross in the 51st minute and the Brazilian did well to win the ball, but his header went just wide of the left post from close in.FT: Real Madrid 0-0 VillarrealThis is the first La Liga game that Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr. failed to score or assist this season. pic.twitter.com/hePbmb3N6M— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 25, 2021 The Yellow Submarine also tried in the second period. Paco Alcacer had a good opportunity when he latched on to a cross from the wing, but his strike from the goal-box wasn’t accurate enough and the ball went a few inches wide of the left post.Benzema was eager to continue his great form. In the 65th minute he swept the ball goalwards towards the middle of the goal, but Geronimo Rulli was well positioned and easily dealt with the effort.Vini Jr also tried 10 minutes later. He made some space for himself on the edge of the box after picking up a pass, but produced a poor effort that sailed high over the bar. Young star signing for the team from the Spanish capital, Eduardo Camavinga, came close to scoring but should have done much better in the 84th minute. His poor attempt from close range ended up in the gloves of Geronimo Rulli.The slow champions: Atleti lose at Alaves after another day of struggling in front of goalIn the final minutes of the match, Real Madrid circled Villareal’s box but those were all futile attempts to find the back of the net.Real Madrid now turn to their Champions League clash against competition debutants Sheriff. Los Blancos ought to do much better than tonight.LA LIGA – ROUND 7 SaturdayDeportivo Alaves – Atletico Madrid 1-0 (1-0)/Laguardia 4/Valencia – Ath.Bilbao 1-1 (0-0)/Marcos Andre 90+5 – Williams 69/Sevilla – Espanyol 2-0 (1-0)/En Nesyri 13, Rafa Mir 87/Real Madrid – Villareal 0-0Sunday15.00: (2.75) Mallorca (3.05) Osasuna (3.00)17.15: (1.47) Barcelona (4.70) Levante (7.50)19.30: (1.40) Sociedad (4.80) Elche (9.50)19.30: (1.70) Rayo Vallecano (3.80) Cadiz (5.70)22.00: (1.85) Betis (3.50) Getafe (5.00)***odds are subject to change
