Real Madrid lose at home as pressure on Zinedine Zidane mounts

Yet more misery was piled on Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid as Villarreal grabbed a late winner to consign the Spanish champions to a damaging 1-0 home defeat.

Pablo Fornals struck the all-important blow just three minutes from time after a rapid counter attack by the visitors, adding to what has been an extremely difficult domestic season for Real Madrid. Zidane was already under pressure before this game and that pressure will now only build further.

The home side had their chances, with Cristiano Ronaldo crashing a freekick against the woodwork and spurning a number of opportunities. Gareth Bale also had a goal disallowed for offside and could have been awarded a penalty for a handball from a header.

But Real Madrid simply didn’t do enough with the possession they had and were ultimately made to pay for it. Villarreal took their chance when it came, with Fornals chipping a cheeky finish over Keylor Navas after the Costa Rican had saved Enes Unal’s initial effort.

Real have not won a Liga match in over a month and look more likely to drop out of the Champions League places than get back into the title race.

The Frenchman barely even waited for the final whistle before scampering down the Santiago Bernabeu tunnel, with boos and whistles raining down on his team. Zidane lost his temper in front of the press and the frustration is only likely to build along with the pressure. Has he lost his grip of Real Madrid? Is this the beginning of the end for him at the club?

The image of Fornals celebration, alongside the slumped Real Madrid players, will make the back pages tomorrow, but Asenjo did more than anyone else to win this match for Villarreal. The hosts had their chances, particularly through Ronaldo, but the former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper pulled off save after save. The pick of the bunch came from a Ronaldo freekick, tipping a swerving strike on to the crossbar. But there were many to choose from.

Real Madrid - Navas 5, Carvajal 6, Varane 5, Nacho 6, Marcelo 4, Casemiro 5, Kroos 6, Modric 6, Isco 4, Bale 5, Ronaldo 5. Subs - Vazquez 5, Asensio 5.

Villarreal - Asenjo 9, Mario 6, Bonera 7, Alvaro 8, Costa 7, Castillejo 7, Rodrigo 6, Trigueros 6, Fornals 8, Raba 5, Bacca 6. Subs - Rukavina 5, Cheryshev 6, Unal 6.

15’ BALE GOAL IS DISALLOWED! Ronaldo heads back across goal from a corner kick, with Bale nodding it home at the back post, but the linesman's flag is up. Bale was indeed offside.

21’ RONALDO HITS THE CROSSBAR! What an effort that was from Ronaldo. He struck the freekick well but Asenjo did just enough to palm the ball up on to the woodwork. Close to the opener!

32’ RONALDO WIDE OF THE POST! Modric picks a wonderful pass for Ronaldo to burst through, but Asenjo does well to close down the angle and force the Portuguese to dink a finish wide.

37’ WAS THAT A PENALTY? Bale glances a header towards goal, but the effort appears to be blocked by the arm of a Villarreal defender. The officials shake their heads collectively, though.

45’ WHAT A SAVE! How did that not end up in the back of the net?! Ronaldo should score from a few yards out, but Asenjo smothered the shot. Ronaldo wants a penalty for a trip. He might have a case.

87’ GOAL! Real Madrid 0-1 Villarreal: Real Madrid have been caught out on the counter attack! Villarreal came flying forward on the counter, with Navas making the save from Unal, but Fornals chips the keeper on he rebound. Incredible!

Villarreal have claimed their first ever win against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.