Real Madrid come from behind to reclaim top spot

Real Madrid mounted an astonishing comeback to claim a win over Villarreal, recovering from 2-0 down to leapfrog Barcelona into top spot in La Liga.

Zinedine Zidane’s side found themselves 2-0 down against the best defence in the Spanish top flight with less than half an hour to play, but scored three times to notch what might prove to be a watershed result in their season.

Goals from Manuel Trigueros and Cedric Bakumbu gave the hosts a commanding lead before Gareth Bale headed home from close range to half the deficit for Real Madrid. The visitors were then awarded a controversial penalty kick, from which Cristiano Ronaldo converted to equalise.

Alvaro Morata was introduced off the bench to give Real Madrid more firepower and he made the difference, heading home the winner with just seven minutes left to play, giving his side a crucial win at the Estadio de la Ceramica.

Is this the night Real Madrid won the title? Two goals down with under half an hour to play, this looked like being a watershed moment in the Spanish title race. Anything less than a win would have seen Barcelona finish the weekend as Liga leaders, but by full time Real Madrid had mounted a sensational comeback to claim all three points and stay top of the pile. So how big will this result be in the context of the title race? Will this be looked back upon as the night Real effectively won it?

Manuel Trigueros (Villarreal) He might have finished up on the losing side, but Trigueros was the best player on the pitch. Everything Villarreal did well came through the midfielder, opening the scoring with a well-taken strike on the half-volley. Along with Same Castillejo, he controlled things in the centre of midfield, unsettling Pepe and Sergio Ramos with his runs into the area. Trigueros was exceptional.

Villarreal - Asenjo 7, Mario 6, Ruiz 6, Musacchio 6, Costa 7, Castillejo 7, Bruno 5, Trigueros 8, Dos Santos 6, Adrian 5, Bakumbu 7. Subs - Fernandez 5, Cheryshev 5, Hernandez 5.

Real Madrid - Navas 6, Carvajal 7, Pepe 5, Ramos 5, Marcelo 7, Casemiro 5, Kroos 6, Modric 6, Bale 7, Benzema 5, Ronaldo 7. Subs - Isco 7, Vazquez 5, Morata 7.

50’ GOAL! Villarreal 1-0 Real Madrid: The home side have the lead! Castillejo knocks down a cross into the box and Trigueros finds the back of the net with a low strike on the half volley! Big goal!

55’ GOAL! Villarreal 2-0 Real Madrid: Villarreal have doubled their lead! Bruno's pass over the top split the Real Madrid backline and Bakumbu raced through to finish past Navas. Another big goal!

61’ OFF THE POST! Ronaldo is so unlucky not to find the net. He couldn't have hit that any better! He improvised to send a shot towards goal, but it bounces away off the inside of the post.

64’ GOAL! Villarreal 2-1 Real Madrid: Real Madrid have a foothold to get back into this game! Carvajal picks out Bale with a cross into the area and the Welshman glances home a header from close range.

72’ PENALTY KICK TO REAL MADRID! The referee points to the spot for a handball inside the penalty area.

74’ GOAL! Villarreal 2-2 Real Madrid: The away side are back on level terms! Ronaldo had to wait a while to take the penalty, but he finds the back of the net with a powerful strike past Fernandez. It's 2-2!

83’ GOAL! Villarreal 2-3 Real Madrid: They have taken the lead! What a comeback from Real Madrid! Morata gets on the end of a cross from Marcelo and his header sneaks under the body of the goalkeeper.

Real Madrid scored for the 44th game in a row (in all competitions) to equal the all-time record streak by a Spanish Liga team (Barcelona 1942-44).

Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored more penalty kicks than any other player in Liga history, overtaking Hugo Sanchez with 57.

Real Madrid have scored more headed goals than any other team in any of Europe’s big five leagues this season (17).